Trade names Starlix MedlinePlus a699057 ATC code A10BX03 (WHO) CAS ID 105816-04-4 | AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph Routes of
administration Oral Molar mass 317.423 g/mol Protein binding 98% | |
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License data EU EMA: Starlix
US FDA: Nateglinide | ||
Insidermedicine in depth april 21 2010 diabetes and nateglinide
Nateglinide (INN, trade name Starlix) is a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Nateglinide was developed by Ajinomoto, a Japanese company and sold by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Contents
- Insidermedicine in depth april 21 2010 diabetes and nateglinide
- Pharmacology
- Contraindications
- Comparisons with other drugs for type 2 diabetes
- Dosage
- References
Nateglinide belongs to the meglitinide class of blood glucose-lowering drugs.
Pharmacology
Nateglinide lowers blood glucose by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas. It achieves this by closing ATP-dependent potassium channels in the membrane of the β cells. This depolarizes the β cells and causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open. The resulting calcium influx induces fusion of insulin-containing vesicles with the cell membrane, and insulin secretion occurs.
Contraindications
Nateglinide is contraindicated in patients who:
Comparisons with other drugs for type 2 diabetes
A study funded by Novo Nordisk, the U.S. distributor for Repaglinide, compared their product with Nateglinide in "A randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter 16-week clinical trial". They concluded that the two were similar, but "repaglinide monotherapy was significantly more effective than nateglinide monotherapy in reducing HbA1c and FPG values after 16 weeks of therapy."
Dosage
Nateglinide is delivered in 60 mg & 120 mg tablet form.