Vladimír Uličiansky, Zbynek Schroner
Linagliptin is a selective, orally administered, inhibitor of dipeptidylpeptidase-4 (DPP-4). The approved therapeutic dose of linagliptin is 5 mg once daily. The advantages of DPP-4 inhibitors over other antidiabetic medications include the low risk of hypoglycaemia and lack of weight gain. New therapeutic indication of linagliptin is in the combination with insulin (with or without metformin), when this regimen alone, with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycaemic control. This indication is based on results from 3 Phase III studies, which include data on the efficacy and safety of linagliptin 5 mg once daily added to a background of insulin therapy with or without oral antidiabetic drugs in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This new indication is also reflected in the treatment algorithm of type 2 diabetes 2013.