Trade names Galvus Pregnancy
category Not recommended Molar mass 303.399 g/mol Protein binding 9.3% | License data EU EMA: Galvus Routes of
administration Oral Bioavailability 85% Trade name Galvus | |
 | ||
AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names ATC code A10BH02 (WHO)
A10BD08 (WHO) (with metformin) | ||
Vildagliptin
Vildagliptin (previously LAF237, trade names Galvus, Zomelis,) is an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent (anti-diabetic drug) of the new dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor class of drugs. Vildagliptin inhibits the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP by DPP-4, allowing GLP-1 and GIP to potentiate the secretion of insulin in the beta cells and suppress glucagon release by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
Contents
Vildagliptin has been shown to reduce hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Combination with metformin
The EMEA has also approved a new oral treatment released by Novartis, called Eucreas, a combination of vildagliptin and metformin.
Adverse Effects
Adverse effects observed in clinical trials include nausea, hypoglycemia, tremor, headache and dizziness. Rare cases of hepatoxicity have been reported.
There have been case reports of pancreatitis associated with DPP-IV inhibitors. A group at UCLA reported increased pre-cancerous pancreatic changes in rats and in human organ donors who had been treated with DPP-IV inhibitors. In response to these reports, the United States FDA and the European Medicines Agency each undertook independent reviews of all clinical and preclinical data related to the possible association of DPP-IV inhibitors with pancreatic cancer. In a joint letter to the New England Journal of Medicines, the agencies stated that "Both agencies agree that assertions concerning a causal association between incretin-based drugs and pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, as expressed recently in the scientific literature and in the media, are inconsistent with the current data. The FDA and the EMA have not reached a final conclusion at this time regarding such a causal relationship. Although the totality of the data that have been reviewed provides reassurance, pancreatitis will continue to be considered a risk associated with these drugs until more data are available; both agencies continue to investigate this safety signal."