Clinical Studies Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Alogliptin and Metformin hydrochloride

Over 2700 patients with type 2 diabetes have received alogliptin coadministered with metformin in four large randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trials. The mean exposure to KAZANO was 58 weeks with more than 1400 subjects treated for more than one year. These included two 26-week placebo controlled studies, one 52-week active control study and an interim analysis of a 104-week active control study. In the KAZANO arm, the mean duration of diabetes was approximately 6 years, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 31 kg/m² (56% of patients had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), and the mean age was 55 years (18% of patients ≥ 65 years of age).

In a pooled analysis of these four controlled clinical studies, the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 74% in patients treated with KAZANO compared to 76% treated with placebo. Overall discontinuation of therapy due to adverse events was 6.2% with KAZANO compared to 1.9% in placebo, 6.4% in metformin, and 5.0% in alogliptin.

Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 4% of patients treated with KAZANO and more frequently than in patients who received alogliptin, metformin or placebo are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 4% of Patients Treated with KAZANO and More Frequently Than in Patients Receiving Either Alogliptin, Metformin or Placebo

Hypoglycemia

In a 26-week, double-blind, active-controlled study, of alogliptin in combination with metformin, the number of patients reporting hypoglycemia was 1.9% in the alogliptin 12.5 mg with metformin HCl 500 mg, 5.3% in the alogliptin 12.5 mg with metformin HCl 1000 mg, 1.8% in the metformin HCl 500 mg, and 6.3% in the metformin HCl 1000 mg treatment groups.

In a 26-week placebo-controlled study of alogliptin 25 mg administered once daily as add-on to metformin regimen, the number of patients reporting hypoglycemic events was 0.9% in the alogliptin with metformin and 2.9% in the placebo treatment groups.

In a 52-week, active-controlled, double-blind study of alogliptin once daily as add-on therapy to the combination of pioglitazone 30 mg and metformin compared to the titration of pioglitazone 30 mg to 45 mg and metformin, the number of patients reporting hypoglycemia was 4.5% in the alogliptin 25 mg with pioglitazone 30 mg and metformin group versus 1.5% in the pioglitazone 45 mg with metformin group.

In an interim analysis conducted in a 104-week, double-blind, active controlled study, of alogliptin 25 mg in combination with metformin, the number of patients reporting hypoglycemia was 1.4% in the alogliptin 25 mg with metformin group versus 23.8% in the glipizide with metformin group.

Alogliptin

Approximately 8500 patients with type 2 diabetes have been treated with alogliptin in 14 randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials with approximately 2900 subjects randomized to placebo and approximately 2200 to an active comparator. The mean exposure to alogliptin was 40 weeks with more than 2400 subjects treated for more than one year. Among these patients, 63% had a history of hypertension, 51% had a history of dyslipidemia, 25% had a history of myocardial infarction, 8% had a history of unstable angina, and 7% had a history of congestive heart failure. The mean duration of diabetes was 7 years, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 31 kg/m² (51% of patients had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²), and the mean age was 57 years (24% of patients ≥ 65 years of age).

Two placebo-controlled monotherapy trials of 12 and 26 weeks of duration were conducted in patients treated with alogliptin 12.5 mg daily, alogliptin 25 mg daily and placebo. Four placebo-controlled add-on combination therapy trials of 26 weeks duration were also conducted: with metformin, with a sulfonylurea, with a thiazolidinedione, and with insulin.

Five placebo-controlled trials of 16 weeks up through two years in duration were conducted in combination with metformin, in combination with pioglitazone and with pioglitazone added to a background of metformin therapy.

Three active-controlled trials of 52 weeks in duration were conducted in patients treated with pioglitazone and metformin, in combination with metformin and as monotherapy compared to glipizide.

In a pooled analysis of these 14 controlled clinical trials, the overall incidence of adverse events was 66% in patients treated with alogliptin 25 mg compared to 62% with placebo and 70% with active comparator. Overall discontinuation of therapy due to adverse events was 4.7% with alogliptin 25 mg compared to 4.5% with placebo or 6.2% with active comparator.

Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 4% of patients treated with alogliptin 25 mg and more frequently than in patients who received placebo are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 4% Patients Treated with Alogliptin 25 mg and More Frequently Than in Patients Given Placebo in Pooled Studies

Pancreatitis

In the clinical trial program, pancreatitis was reported in 11 of 5902 (0.2%) patients receiving alogliptin 25 mg daily compared to 5 of 5183 ( < 0.1%) patients receiving all comparators.

Hypersensitivity Reactions

In a pooled analysis, the overall incidence of hypersensitivity reactions was 0.6% with alogliptin 25 mg compared to 0.8% with all comparators. A single event of serum sickness was reported in a patient treated with alogliptin 25 mg.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemic events were documented based upon a blood glucose value and/or clinical signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia.

In the monotherapy study, the incidence of hypoglycemia was 1.5% in patients treated with alogliptin compared to 1.6% with placebo. The use of alogliptin as add-on therapy to glyburide or insulin did not increase the incidence of hypoglycemia compared to placebo. In a monotherapy study comparing alogliptin to a sulfonylurea in elderly patients, the incidence of hypoglycemia was 5.4% with alogliptin as compared to 26% with glipizide.

Metformin hydrochloride

Table 3: Most Common Adverse Reactions ( ≥ 5%) in a Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study of Metformin Monotherapy*

Laboratory Abnormalities

Alogliptin and Metformin hydrochloride

No clinically meaningful differences were observed among treatment groups regarding hematology, serum chemistry, or urinalysis results.

Alogliptin

No clinically meaningful changes in hematology, serum chemistry, or urinalysis were observed in patients treated with alogliptin.

Metformin hydrochloride

Metformin may lower serum Vitamin B12 concentrations. Measurement of hematologic parameters on an annual basis is advised in patients on KAZANO and any apparent abnormalities should be appropriately investigated and managed [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Postmarketing Experience

Alogliptin

The following adverse reactions have been identified during the postmarketing use of alogliptin outside the United States. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Hypersensitivity reactions including analphylaxis, angioedema, rash, urticaria, and severe cutaneous adverse reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome; hepatic enzyme elevations; fulminant hepatic failure; and acute pancreatitis.

Read the Kazano (alogliptin and metformin hcl tablets) Side Effects Center for a complete guide to possible side effects »

Alogliptin

Alogliptin is primarily renally excreted and CYP-related metabolism is negligible. No drug-drug interactions were observed with the CYP-substrates or inhibitors tested, or with renally excreted drugs [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].

Metformin hydrochloride

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

Topiramate or other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g., zonisamide, acetazolamide or dichlorphenamide) frequently decrease serum bicarbonate and induce non-anion gap, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Concomitant use of these drugs may induce metabolic acidosis. Use these drugs with caution in patients treated with metformin, as the risk of lactic acidosis may increase.

Cationic Drugs

Cationic drugs (e.g., amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, or vancomycin) that are eliminated by renal tubular secretion theoretically have the potential for interaction with metformin by competing for common renal tubular transport systems. Although such interactions remain theoretical (except for cimetidine), careful patient monitoring and dose adjustment of KAZANO and/or the interfering drug is recommended in patients who are taking cationic medications that are excreted via the proximal renal tubular secretory system.

The Use of Metformin with Other Drugs

Certain drugs tend to produce hyperglycemia and may lead to loss of glycemic control. These drugs include the thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroids, phenothiazines, thyroid products, estrogens, oral contraceptives, phenytoin, nicotinic acid, sympathomimetics, calcium channel blocking drugs, and isoniazid. When such drugs are administered to a patient receiving KAZANO the patient should be closely observed for loss of blood glucose control. When such drugs are withdrawn from a patient receiving KAZANO, the patient should be observed closely for hypoglycemia.

Last reviewed on RxList: 2/11/2013
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.