Efficacy and safety of combining empagliflozin in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus uncontrolled with metformin and sitagliptin: A randomised, double-blind, multicentre, therapeutic confirmatory phase 3 clinical trial

Aim: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg compared to placebo as add-on treatment for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) uncontrolled after ≥8 weeks of treatment with metformin and sitagliptin. Materials and Methods: A randomised, double-blind, multicentre, therapeutic confirmatory, phase 3 clinical trial was conducted in 172 patients with T2DM. Participants with glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels 7%–10% receiving sitagliptin and metformin were randomised 1:1:1 to empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg, or placebo. The primary endpoint was the change in HbA1c from baseline to week 24. Results: After 24 weeks of treatment, HbA1c levels were significantly decreased in the empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg group versus the placebo group; the adjusted mean differences with empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg versus placebo were −0.7% (95% CI −1.0, −0.4; p <.0001) and −0.8% (95% CI −1.1, −0.5; p <.0001), respectively. Fasting plasma glucose levels were also significantly decreased in both empagliflozin groups compared to the placebo group (both p <.0001). More patients reached HbA1c <7% or <6.5% after 24 weeks in the empagliflozin 10 and 25 mg groups versus the placebo group (both p <.05). Efficacy was maintained in the empagliflozin groups during a 28-week extension period. Empagliflozin add-on was associated with improvements in albuminuria and body weight. The incidence of adverse events was similar across groups; add-on empagliflozin was well tolerated. Conclusions: These results suggest that coadministration of empagliflozin safely improves glycemic control in Korean patients with T2DM uncontrolled by sitagliptin and metformin.