| Popis: |
In 1995, several new molecules under study as potential insulinotropic agents for the treatment of non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus were identified as analogs of meglitinide, previously known as the non-sulfonylurea moiety of glibenclamide. Three of these molecules, namely repaglinide, nateglinide and mitiglinide are or will be soon available for administration to diabetic patients. The present report aims at reviewing both preclinical studies and clinical investigations concerning the latter three meglitinide analogs. Their insulinotropic action seems attributable, like that of hypoglycaemic sulfonylureas, to a primary effect on the ATP-sensitive K+ channels of pancreatic insulin-producing cells. These meglitinide analogs differ from one another, however, by their potency as insulinotropic agents and by the time course of their biological effects, especially in terms of the reversibility of such effects. |
