Ertugliflozin as a monotherapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Introduction: Sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are novel, potent oral anti-diabetic agents in a beta-cell function-independent manner, inhibiting SGLT2-mediated renal glucose reabsorption and thus increasing urinary glucose excretion. Ertugliflozin (Steglatro(TM)) is a new oral SGLT2 inhibitor for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as a monotherapy or in combination with other anti-diabetic agents. Areas covered: This review summarizes the collected data concerning the pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, as well as safety and tolerability profiles of ertugliflozin given as a monotherapy for the management of T2DM. Expert opinion: Good glycemic control is crucial to the management of T2DM, and accordingly, anti-diabetic agents with various anti-hyperglycemic mechanisms are developed one after another. Based on the available clinical trials of ertugliflozin as a monotherapy for T2DM, it could be found that ertugliflozin effectively improves the glycemic control, body weight and blood pressure of patients with a low risk of hypoglycemia. It is also found that ertugliflozin moderately reduces their blood pressure, which is beneficial for decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. These attributes show the good potential of ertugliflozin as an adjunct treatment to diet and exercise for improving glycemic control in patients with T2DM.