Empagliflozin as Add-on Therapy to Pioglitazone With or Without Metformin in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

PurposeTo investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of empagliflozin as add-on therapy to pioglitazone with or without metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsOf 498 patients randomized to empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg, or placebo once daily for 24 weeks in the EMPA-REG PIO™ study, 305 (61.2%) were treated in a double-blind extension trial for ≥52 weeks (total duration ≥76 weeks). Exploratory end points at week 76 included changes from baseline in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), weight, and blood pressure assessed using ANCOVA in patients who received ≥1 dose of study drug and had a baseline HbA1c measurement in the initial study.FindingsCompared with placebo, adjusted mean (95% CI) changes from baseline in HbA1c level at week 76 were −0.59% (−0.79% to −0.40%; P < 0.001) for empagliflozin 10 mg (−6.5 [−8.6 to −4.4] mmol/mol) and −0.69% (−0.88% to −0.50%; P < 0.001) for empagliflozin 25 mg (−7.5 [−9.6 to −5.4] mmol/mol). Compared with placebo, adjusted mean (95% CI) changes from baseline in weight at week 76 were −2.0 kg (−2.7 to −1.2 kg; P < 0.001) and −1.7 kg (−2.4 −1.0 kg; P < 0.001) for empagliflozin 10 mg and 25 mg, respectively. Compared with placebo, only empagliflozin 25 mg led to significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (adjusted mean [95% CI] change: −3.7 mmHg [−6.1 to −1.3 mmHg]; P = 0.003) and diastolic blood pressure (adjusted mean [95% CI] change: −2.2 mmHg [−3.7 to −0.7 mmHg]; P = 0.004). Sensitivity analyses were consistent with these results for HbA1c level, fasting plasma glucose concentration, and weight, but revealed no significant difference between empagliflozin and placebo in change from baseline in systolic or diastolic blood pressure at week 76. Confirmed hypoglycemic adverse events (glucose ≤3.9 mmol/L and/or requiring assistance) were reported in 4.2%, 1.8%, and 3.0% of patients treated with placebo, empagliflozin 10 mg, and empagliflozin 25 mg, respectively; 1 patient each taking placebo and empagliflozin 25 mg required assistance. Adverse events consistent with urinary tract infection were reported in 26.7%, 22.4%, and 22.0% of patients treated with placebo, empagliflozin 10 mg, and empagliflozin 25 mg, respectively. Adverse events consistent with genital infection were reported in 3.0%, 10.3%, and 4.2% of patients treated with placebo, empagliflozin 10 mg, and empagliflozin 25 mg, respectively.ImplicationsEmpagliflozin 10 mg or 25 mg as add-on therapy to pioglitazone with or without metformin for 76 weeks was well tolerated and led to sustained reductions in HbA1c and weight compared with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01210001.