Fixed-dose single tablet antidiabetic combinations
Fixed-dose single tablet antidiabetic combinations
School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
Combinations of two or more oral agents with different mechanisms of action are often used for the management ofhyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes. While these combinations have customarily been taken as separate tablets, severalfixed-dose single tablet combinations are now available. These are based on bioequivalence with the separate tablets,giving similar efficacy to the separate tablets and necessitating the same cautions and contraindications that apply toeach active component. Fixed-dose combinations can offer convenience, reduce the pill burden and simplifyadministration regimens for the patient. They increase patient adherence compared with equivalent combinations ofseparate tablets, and this is associated with some improvements in glycaemic control. Presently available antidiabeticfixed-dose combinations include metformin combined with a sulphonylurea, thiazolidinedione, dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitor or meglitinide as well as thiazolidinedione–sulphonylurea combinations, each at a range of dosagestrengths to facilitate titration. Anticipated future expansion of multiple drug regimens for diabetes management islikely to increase the use of fixed-dose single tablet combinations.
Keywords: antidiabetic agents, bioequivalence, compliance, fixed-dose combinations, hypoglycaemic agentsReceived 19 August 2008; accepted 15 September 2008
to demonstrate that better glycaemic control, especially dur-
ing early stages of the disease process, helps to reduce long-
The management of hyperglycaemia in type 2 diabetes often
term morbidity and mortality [8–10]. Most treatment algo-
requires a combination of two or more glucose-lowering
rithms for type 2 diabetes acknowledge this as a basis for
therapies [1,2]. These can be used to improve glycaemic
their choice of target [2,5–7]. They also emphasize lifestyle
control by addressing different pathophysiological aspects
(diet and exercise) advice as initial and ongoing therapy
of the disease, such as insulin resistance, b-cell dysfunc-
and generally suggest metformin as a first-line pharmaco-
tion, a-cell dysfunction and defects of nutrient metabolism
logical agent, provided there are no contraindications or
affecting liver, muscle and adipose tissue [3,4]. With in-
tolerability issues [2,5–7]. If appropriate, another type of
creased attention focussed towards glycaemic targets and
antidiabetic agent such as an insulin secretagogue, thiazo-
the prevention of complications [2,5–7], there has been
lidinedione or an a-glucosidase inhibitor could be used.
heightened interest in combination therapy, particularly
However, one antidiabetic agent alone is rarely sufficient
‘fixed-dose’ single tablet combinations of antidiabetic
to maintain acceptable glycaemic control. For example, in
agents. This review takes stock of the current use and future
the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, less than
opportunities for antidiabetic single tablet combinations.
one-quarter of patients treated with a single oral antidia-betic agent maintained a glycosylated haemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) level below 7% after 9 years [1]. When one agent
does not achieve or sustain the desired glycaemic target, it
Although the most desirable target for good glycaemic
is customary to add a second agent. If patients exhibit
control remains in contention, there is much evidence
severe hyperglycaemia, this usually indicates the need for
Correspondence:Prof. Clifford J. Bailey, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK. E-mail:[email protected]
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11, 2009, 527–533
insulin therapy which can be introduced while continu-
peutic breadth to combat the progressive nature of type
ing one or more oral agents (figure 1).
2 diabetes. Where lower doses of two agents can be used
Prescription databases in the UK such as DINLink and
instead of a high dose of one agent, this can reduce the
MAT indicate that in 2007 about one-third of all patients
side effects that often occur with a high dose of the one
with diagnosed type 2 diabetes are treated with two or
agent [12,13]. However, combination therapy requires
more oral antidiabetic agents. A recent survey of 154 gen-
that the contraindications, precautions and monitoring
eral practices in the UK (covering 1.2 million people,
associated with each agent must be respected. Risk of
3.1% diagnosed type 2 diabetes) noted that 36.8% of type
hypoglycaemia, possible drug interactions and special
2 patients were being treated with two or more oral anti-
care during dose titration must also be appreciated.
diabetic agents [11]. The oral combination therapy
In practice, metformin can be combined with any other
‘bought’ a median 7.7 years of time after monotherapy
therapy (unless contraindications exist). Commonly, an
until initiation of insulin therapy. Prescription data-
agent that reduces insulin resistance (e.g. metformin or
bases for the UK in 2007 indicate that among type 2 dia-
a thiazolidinedione) is combined with an oral insulin
betes patients who are receiving oral antidiabetic drugs,
secretagogue, such as a sulphonylurea or meglitinide
just over 50% are treated with monotherapy, just over
[2,5]. Combination with one of the newly available sec-
40% are treated with a combination of two oral agents
retagogues, namely a dipeptidylpeptidase-4 (DPP-4)
and about 4–5% are prescribed three types of agents.
inhibitor or an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, is also a viable option [14]. Additionally,because metformin and thiazolidinediones counter
insulin resistance by different cellular mechanisms,
The potential benefits and extra cautions associated with
these agents can be combined with additive anti-
a combination of two or three antidiabetic agents have
hyperglycaemic efficacy [15]. Where extra postprandial
been rehearsed in detail previously [12,13]. As a rule of
control is required, or interprandial glycaemic troughs
thumb antidiabetic agents with different modes of
are too low, an a-glucosidase inhibitor can be combined
action can be used in combination to achieve additive or
with any other antidiabetic therapy [12]. Because sul-
possibly synergistic glucose-lowering effects. In princi-
phonylureas act on the beta-cell by a different cellular
ple, these differently acting agents should address
mechanism to GLP-1, sulphonylureas have also been
different pathological factors, thereby increasing thera-
combined with a GLP-1 agonist or DPP-4 inhibitor [14].
The effect of adding a second antidiabetic agent has been
assessed in many prospective randomized double-blinded
Lifestyle + metformin
placebo-controlled or parallel group comparator studies:these are summarized and reviewed elsewhere [12–16]. When interpreting these studies, it is pertinent to bear inmind the variability of individual responses and disease
Add insulin Add insulin
status. Thus, the falls in HbA1c vary with recruited pop-
secretagogue* sensitizer
ulation, baseline HbA1c, obesity, drug doses and treat-ment duration as well as the actual agents involved,making it difficult to compare add-on efficacy betweenstudies [12,13,16]. Oral combinations are sometimes con-
Add insulin Intensify Add insulin
tinued with the introduction of insulin in type 2 diabetes
sensitizer secretagogue
[17]. These usually include an agent to reduce insulinresistance, but an insulin secretagogue can increaseendogenous insulin delivery into the portal vein to target
Further intensify insulin or add insulin
the liver. This complements the higher peripheral insulin
and continue one or two oral agents
levels achieved with subcutaneous injections.
Reassuringly, most treatment guidelines offer some
Fig. 1 Simplified algorithm for the treatment of hyper-
practical advice about individualizing combination ther-
glycaemia in type 2 diabetes. Modified from the American
apy, heeding exclusion criteria and minimizing risk of
Diabetes Association - European Association for the Study
hypoglycaemia if close to a low glycaemic target. Other pro-
of Diabetes (ADA-EASD) consensus statement [2].
minent considerations include weight gain, co-existing
*Insulin sectetagogue could be a sulphonylurea, meglitinide,DPP-4 inhibitor or GLP-1 agonist. An a-glucosidase inhihitor
morbidity, vascular risk, patient lifestyle and potential
can be added with any of the other antidiabetic therapies
interactions with other medications [2,5–7].
j Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11, 2009, 527–533
also impose the same cautions associated with separate
Although oral combination therapy has mostly beenundertaken with separate tablets for each agent, this
increases the pill burden for a group of patients who arealready likely to be treated with several other medications
Single tablet combinations of antidiabetic agents can
[18]. Many type 2 patients take more than 10 medi-
increase adherence compared with separate tablets. For
cations daily and some take in excess of 20 [18–20]. Sev-
example, a US prescription database was used to assess
eral studies involving agents to treat hypertension and
adherence (proportion of days for which tablets were col-
dyslipidaemia have noted that patient adherence de-
lected) during 1 year by 1618 diabetic patients switched
clines as the number of prescribed medications increa-
from monotherapy with metformin or rosiglitazone to
ses [21,22]. Careful tracking of antihypertensive therapy
a combination of these agents. Patients receiving
using containers with electronic date–time recorded
a fixed-dose combination (Avandamet) showed greater
dispensing noted that compliance (percentage of days
adherence (86%) than those receiving a combination of
on which the prescribed numbers of doses were
separate tablets (61%) [30]. In a study of 6525 newly
removed) decreased from 83 to 57% when comparing
diagnosed patients treated with either glibenclamide
once-daily vs. thrice-daily therapy [23].
(glyburide) or metformin monotherapy, adherence (pro-
Adherence to oral antidiabetic therapies is similarly
portion of days for which tablets were collected) over
prone to decline with increases in dosage frequency and
6 months was similar for the two agents at 71% [31].
number of daily medications [24–26]. For example, in 91
However, when patients required combination therapy,
type 2 patients, compliance (defined as percentage of
those given separate tablets showed only 54% adherence,
prescribed doses reportedly taken by patients) with oral
whereas adherence was maintained (77%) among those
antidiabetic therapy fell from 79% for a once-daily dose
given a fixed-dose combination. Moreover, improved
to 38% for three times daily [27]. In the Diabetes Audit
adherence translates into improved glycaemic control:
Research in Tayside (DARTS, Scotland) study of 2849
thus, when 72 patients receiving metformin and gly-
type 2 diabetic patients, adherence (measured as refill-
buride as separate tablets were switched to a fixed-dose
ing 90% of prescribed medication for >1 year) to sul-
single tablet regimen, HbA1c was reduced by 0.6% [32].
phonylurea or metformin as monotherapy was 31 and
Improved adherence implies less drug wastage and
34%, respectively, corresponding to about 300 days of
greater opportunity for added agents to achieve their
treatment per year. When a combination of these two
therapeutic potential. Indeed, increased adherence to
drugs was prescribed, adherence was reduced to 13%,
antidiabetic medication correlated with fewer hospital
corresponding to 266 days of treatment per year [28]. A
admissions and reduced overall healthcare costs among
similar study in the USA tracked 6995 type 2 patients
type 2 patients [33]. Also, a recent retrospective study of
for 2 years and noted that compliance (defined as the
adherence (proportion of days for which tablets were
number of days for which tablets were collected) for sul-
collected) to all therapies in 11 532 diabetic patients
phonylurea or metformin as monotherapy was 60.5 and
noted higher HbA1c, higher blood pressure and higher
63%, respectively, corresponding to 435 and 454 days
LDL cholesterol levels in non-adherent patients (<80%
of treatment over 720 days. However, compliance was
of tablets collected), and this coincided with increased
only 35.7% (corresponding to 257 days of treatment
risk of hospitalization and increased mortality [34].
over 720 days) when the drugs were prescribed as
Because many individual antidiabetic drug therapies
a combination [29]. One might anticipate therefore that
are administered with the same dosing schedules, there
improvements in glycaemic control expected by treat-
is a pharmacokinetic rationale for their combination
ment intensification could be at least partially offset by
within single tablets. It is sometimes argued that fixed-
dose combinations reduce prescriber flexibility andconstrain the titration process, but there are several dif-ferent dosage strengths of most fixed-dose combinations(table 1), which facilitate and simplify dose titration.
Also, as with combinations of separate tablets, fixed-
dose combinations can facilitate similar or greater gly-
Fixed-dose single tablet combinations of antidiabetic
caemic control with lower doses of two agents than with
agents offer several potential advantages over separate
a large dose of one agent. For example, a fixed-dose
tablets, particularly associated with compliance. They
metformin–glipizide combination (Metaglip) produced
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11, 2009, 527–533
Table 1 Fixed-dose single tablet antidiabetic combinations*,y
available as a separate tablet at much lower cost. Thus,fixed-dose combinations are generally competitively
priced compared with the same combinations as separate
All forms of combination therapy require special vigi-
lance to comply with the contraindications, precautions
and monitoring that apply to both agents. Interactions
between the different classes of antidiabetic agents are
rare [16], but a potentially heightened risk of hypo-
glycaemia must be appreciated, especially when aiming
for near-normal levels of glycaemia. Appropriate selec-
tion of the combination and the starting dose should
take this into account, noting that agents that do not
usually precipitate hypoglycaemia as monotherapy may
nevertheless act together to lower glycaemia into thesubnormal range. Subtle adjustments to the dose or tim-
ing of administration of one of the agents to avoid such
yAvailability of tablets and component strengths differ betweencountries.
events cannot be made with fixed-dose combinations.
Marketing approval of fixed-dose antidiabetic combi-
**Names vary between Europe and USA.
nations has been based on pharmacokinetic and pharma-
yyFood and Drug Administration (FDA) approval June 2008.
codynamic equivalence to the two active components asseparate tablets. Although bioavailabilities of the active
more than twice the reduction of HbA1c compared with
components may have been adjusted slightly to facilitate
similar or greater dosages of metformin or glipizide as
administration within the same tablet, the range of dosage
monotherapy [35]. Similarly, a fixed-dose combination
strengths available has ensured that concerns about a lack
of metformin–glibenclamide (Glucovance) achieved a
of flexibility for dose titration are seldom a practical lim-
greater reduction in HbA1c with half or less than half of
itation. Thus, the dosage increments are generally the
the amounts of metformin or glibenclamide as mono-
same for a fixed-dose combination as separate tablet com-
therapy [36]. The extra glucose-lowering effect seen
binations. The titration steps are dictated by the compo-
with the Glucovance fixed-dose combination may have
nent that exerts the faster blood glucose-lowering effect,
been achieved in part through a small adjustment in the
noting that the slowly generated antihyperglycaemic
formulation (discussed below), indicating a further
action of thiazolidinediones warrants some extended
opportunity to increase the efficacy gain from fixed-
Certain intercurrent illnesses or investigations may
As reported with combinations of separate tablets,
require temporary withholding of one component of
lower doses of two agents in a fixed-dose combination
a fixed-dose combination, or the emergence of a contrain-
can reduce the side effects associated with a high dose
dication may necessitate permanent cessation of one
of one agent. Thus, uptitrating metformin to improve gly-
component. In each case, stopping the fixed-dose tablet
caemic control may be limited by onset of diarrhoea, but
inconveniently stops both components, but the continu-
this was avoided while achieving a similar improvement
ing component can still be given as a single tablet at the
in glycaemic control by addition of rosiglitazone in
same dosage or where appropriate, an alternative combi-
nation can be substituted at a comparable strength.
From a pharmacoeconomic perspective [38], some drug
cost reimbursement procedures may enable patients and/
or their healthcare providers to use fixed-dose combina-
tions to receive two drugs for approximately the price ofone. Many fixed-dose combinations are priced little
The main fixed-dose single tablet combinations of antidi-
higher than the more expensive component of the combi-
abetic drugs are listed in table 1. Not all combinations or
nation: the cheaper component is usually generic and
dosage strengths are available in all countries, and there
j Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11, 2009, 527–533
are some variations in the names and approved
formin and glibenclamide as separate tablets [36]. How-
ever, to provide bioequivalence with the separate
Combination therapy with a biguanide and a sulpho-
tablets, the formulation of Glucovance contains suffi-
nylurea as separate tablets has been used in Europe for
cient very small particles of glibenclamide that there is
over 40 years, and some early fixed-dose combinations
rapid absorption of a small proportion of the glibencla-
involving phenformin or metformin together with a sul-
mide. When the combination tablet is taken with or
phonylurea receive minority use in some countries.
immediately before a main meal, this increases the
However, these combinations were mostly designed
prandial insulin response, adding particularly to the
around the sulphonylurea component, whereas the
reduction in postprandial hyperglycaemia [36,48].
introduction of Glucovance (metformin–glibenclamide)
Thus, minor adaptations in the formulation of fixed-
as a fixed-dose combination in the USA in 2000
dose combinations can provide efficacy gains.
provided a more equitable balance of dosages [36,39].
Formulation adjustments can also be used to assist tol-
Glucovance generated a new interest in antidiabetic
erability: for example, use of a slow release fixed-dose
fixed-dose combinations and accounted for about 6%
formulation that combines metformin–pioglitazone can
of oral antidiabetic prescriptions in the USA for 2006,
delay absorption of the metformin component and reduce
with much higher usage in some countries of central
and South America (http://www.come2merck.com/servlet/PB/show/1649970/Merck_GB_06_en_13_b_Ethicals.pdf).
Following in the wake of Glucovance, a metformin–glipizide combination (Metaglip, 2002) received much
With regard to the treatment of diabetes and related
cardiometabolic disorders, the UK and other European
Fixed-dose combinations of metformin with the
countries have embraced the concept of fixed-dose com-
thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone (Avandamet, 2002) or
binations with less enthusiasm than the USA. Neverthe-
pioglitazone (Competact/Actoplusmet, 2005) have re-
less, fixed-dose combinations of antihypertensive drugs
ceived considerable use in North America. The single
have been reported to improve compliance and increase
tablet combinations show bioequivalence to the two
efficacy with fewer side effects [50–52]. Multiple thera-
drugs given as separate tablets, affording similar levels
pies are often required to treat dyslipidaemia [53],
of glycaemic control and fewer tolerability issues when
and several fixed-dose combinations of lipid-lowering
used instead of a high dose of one [40,41]. Fixed-dose
agents are approved in various countries, for example
combinations of a thiazolidinedione with a sulphony-
Vytorin (ezetimibe–simvastatin), Advicor (lovastatin–
lurea have recently been produced, again showing
niaspan), Simcor (simvastatin–niaspan) and Tredap-
similar properties to the separate tablet combina-
tive (nicotinic acid plus laropiprant – to reduce the
tions (Avaglim/Avandaryl and Tandemact/Duetact)
nicotinic acid flush). In recent years, the prospect has
emerged that fixed-dose combinations could be used
The DPP-4 inhibitors sitagliptin and vildagliptin
to treat across different indications. For example,
increase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, reduce
Caduet (atorvastatin–amplodipine) provides a single
glucagon secretion and improve glycaemic control
tablet to address lipid-lowering and antihypertensive
without weight gain [44]. Fixed-dose combinations
of sitagliptin–metformin (Janumet) and vildagliptin–metformin (Eucreas) have been developed [45,46].
Janumet is available in the USA (2007) and due forlaunch soon in Europe, while Eucreas is available in
Development of fixed-dose combinations containing an
parts of Europe (2008) but not in the USA. Recently
antidiabetic agent plus a statin has been investigated,
(2008), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved
and there is ongoing research into combinations of anti-
a fixed-dose combination of metformin with repaglinide
obesity agents. It is generally appreciated that the treat-
ment of type 2 diabetes requires attention to myriadcardiovascular risk factors, and several long-term trialshave demonstrated the benefits of adopting this approach
[54]. This has fostered the concept of a multiple combi-
In some trials, the glucose-lowering effect of Glucovance
nation pill (so-called polypill) for diabetes that might be
(noted above) appeared to be slightly more than additive
anticipated to include a statin, an antihypertensive, pos-
(sometimes described as synergistic) compared with met-
sibly an anticoagulant and one or more antidiabetic
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 11, 2009, 527–533
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Sisters come to help mother after father's death. LearnThe story of Charlie's freshman year of high school:finding new friends, love, pain, parties and familydrama. A thoughtful look at growing up and makingWriter, American, and Jewish immigrant tell storiesShort stories set in small town Americana in 1943 withStory of survival in Colorado after a flu pandemicBaseball writer covering opening