An overview of recent developments in clinical trials of anti-diabetic drugs.

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting over 90% of diabetes patients worldwide. The condition is driven by genetic predispositions, environmental factors, obesity, and physical inactivity. Pharmacological treatments range from metformin to newer agents, including GLP-1 analogues and SGLT-2 inhibitors, which target different aspects of glucose metabolism. The review highlights advancements in clinical trials for T2DM treatments, focusing on recent and ongoing research. Clinical trial data were sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, and the search criteria focused on trials that were published with monotherapy of T2DM having results within the last six years, specifically from 2019 to 2024. The clinical trials of the patients under the age group of adults (18 to 64 years) and older adults (>64 years) were included. The data are mentioned in inverse chronological order with respect to study duration. The clinical trial data suggest promising results in managing hemoglobin A1c and body weight. However, adverse events such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and bone-related issues and other issues such as diabetic ketoacidosis and pancreatitis were reported in some cases. Dulaglutide, tripeptide, and oral insulin showed promising therapeutic effects in clinical trials. Despite significant progress, the management of T2DM remains challenging, emphasizing the need for ongoing innovation in treatment approaches to improve patient quality of life and reduce the global burden of the disease.