A study demonstrating that a glucose-lowering drug could benefit the heart was named one of the top five "game-changers" in cardiology and endocrinology in 2015, according to specialists contacted by ڴŮ.
The EMPA-REG study of empagliflozin (Jardiance), a once-daily SGLT2 inhibitor used to treat type 2 diabetes, found that the drug cut the rate of cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, and nonfatal stroke in type 2 diabetics.
The results were initially reported by Yale's , at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting (and ), and then Inzucchi followed up with additional analysis of the data at the American Heart Association scientific conference last month.
When ڴŮ asked cardiologists and endocrinologists to name top "game-changers" for 2015, all endocrinologists responding rated the Jardiance data as #1, while cardiologists gave it only a slightly lower rating. Combining the two groups, results from the EMPA-REG trial came in at the number 4 position.
The list:
1. SPRINT Trial
2. PCSK9 inhibitors approval
3. Entresto approval
4. EMPA-REG
5. Interventional (ABSORB III, TAVR)
"With the possible exception of metformin, no other diabetes intervention had previously shown cardiovascular risk reduction, let alone a mortality benefit," according to, cardiologist at Cedars Sinai Health System. "This finding is going to dramatically alter the therapeutic landscape for diabetes."
"Perhaps SGLT2 inhibitors as a class reduce CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes, with an apparent major effect on CHF-related events," said endocrinologist and former AHA president , of the University of Colorado. "Now we need to understand the mechanism(s)."