Information on Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) Inhibitors

DPP-4 inhibitors are a class of prescription medicines that are used with diet and exercise to control high blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Medicines in the DPP-4 inhibitor class include sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, and alogliptin. They are available as single-ingredient products and in combination with other diabetes medicines such as metformin. DPP-4 inhibitors lower blood sugar by helping the body increase the level of the hormone insulin after meals. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into the tissues so the body can use the sugar to produce energy and keep blood sugar levels stable.

Information on DPP-4 Inhibitors

• FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA adds warnings about heart failure risk to labels of type 2 diabetes medicines containing saxagliptin and alogliptin
• FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns that DPP-4 inhibitors for type 2 diabetes may cause severe joint pain
• FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA to review heart failure risk with diabetes drug saxagliptin (marketed as Onglyza and Kombiglyze XR)