Boehringer Ingelheim has launched Esgliteo (empagliflozin/linagliptin), a compound therapy of the SGLT-2 inhibitor Jardiance (empagliflozin) and the DPP-4 inhibitor Trajenta (linagliptin), with insurance coverage in Korea.
Boehringer Ingelheim on Monday announced the domestic launch of Esgliteo (empagliflozin/linagliptin), a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
The company has developed Esgliteo in a smaller tablet size of about 8.1 millimeters for administrative convenience for patients who have difficulty taking pills. For patients who need additional glycemic control, two options are also available -- 10 mg/5 mg and 25 mg/5 mg.
Esgliteo provides a superior glycose-lowering effect and the therapeutic benefit of each agent. The SGLT-2 inhibitor component, empagliflozin, demonstrated the first cardiovascular benefit in diabetes with a 14-percent reduction in the risk of a major cardiovascular event (cardiovascular-related death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke) compared to placebo in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME study.
Besides, the DPP-4 inhibitor linagliptin did not increase cardiovascular risk compared to placebo and sulfonylureas (SU) in the CARMELINA and CAROLINA studies, with about five-fold reduction in the incidence of moderate or severe hypoglycemia compared to SU, according to Boehringer Ingelheim Korea.
Patients can also expect Esgliteo to provide superior glucose control through the complementary mechanisms of SGLT-2 and DPP-4 inhibitors. In a phase 3 study, Esgliteo demonstrated improved glycemic control at week 24 compared to empagliflozin and linagliptin monotherapies in patients with type 2 diabetes not controlled by metformin.
"With the growing importance of combination therapy for type 2 diabetes, we are pleased to offer Korean patients a treatment option that combines the therapeutic benefits of both agents with the dosing convenience," said Hwang In-hwa, a managing director in overall charge of marketing. "We will continue our efforts to strengthen the position of our original products in the diabetes market and improve the treatment experience."
On May 1, Esgliteo was listed as a reimbursable item of the National Health Insurance Service based on a notification from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Patients with type 2 diabetes who have an HbA1c of 7 percent or higher after two to four months of treatment with a two-drug regimen are eligible for coverage when prescribed with Esgliteo as part of a three-drug regimen, including metformin.