Therefore, using a combination like dapagliflozin and exenatide makes complete physiologic sense, he said. Both drugs improve HbA1c, and decrease body weight and systolic blood pressure. Dapagliflozin accomplishes these tasks by increasing urinary glucose excretion, which leads to decreased vascular stiffness and better blood pressure. Exenatide works in a completely different pathway - insulin signaling - and has the additional benefit of decreasing inflammation.
The positive results of DURATION-8 support this clinical assumption, he concluded. “I would submit that combination therapy with exenatide and dapagliflozin is a rational approach, and takes advantage of the unique properties of both of these drugs,” he said.
Dr. Ferrannini has received research finding from AstraZeneca, which manufactures dapagliflozin and exenatide, as well as other companies that market diabetes drugs.
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