Takeda diabetes drug halts narrowing of arteries

The build up of plaque in the arteries is called atherosclerosis. The study is the largest and longest study to examine the effects of Actos, also known as pioglitazone, on measures of the atherosclerotic disease process in patients with type 2 diabetes, most of whom had no clinical evidence of heart disease. Atherosclerosis is accelerated in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The primary goal of the trial was to compare the effects of Actos versus glimepiride, on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), defined as the thickness of the inner lining of a patient’s neck arteries. The trial also assessed the occurrence of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relative reduction in the progression of CIMT with Actos. Studies show that, for people living with diabetes, CIMT progresses at an increased rate. The results also showed Actos to be superior to glimpiride. Actos decreased triglyceride levels by 13.5% versus an increase of 2.1% with glimepiride and increased HDL-C levels by 12.8% versus a decrease of 1.1% with glimepiride.

“While additional studies are needed to determine how reductions in CIMT with pioglitazone might prevent cardiovascular events, we do know that new approaches to addressing CV risk factors in diabetes are critical,” said Theodore Mazzone, director of the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Illinois.