Diabetes Drugs: Present and Emerging

Abstract

This chapter includes a summary of the mechanism of action, history, and ADME properties compounds selected from four classes of marketed drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These include the biguanides (metformin), α-glucosylase inhibitors, sulfonylureas, and glinides. In addition, a discussion of several advanced, emerging classes of drugs together with lead structures is provided. The mechanistic classes of emerging drugs include inhibitors of the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), glucokinase activators (GKAs), inhibitors of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FPase), inhibitors of 11-β-sterol dehydrogenase (11-β-HSD1), agonists acting on the G-coupled-protein receptor GPR119, and mimics of the sirtuin family member SIRT1. Keywords: diabetes; glucokinase; metformin; sodium glucose cotransporter; salfonyl urea