Publications on the Efficacy of Glucobay

Glucobay^® – the most extensively investigated and widely prescribed α-glucosidase inhibitor – reduces all relevant glycaemic parameters especially postprandial plasma glucose excursions by delaying the absorption of carbohydrate from the small intestine.

Glucobay is an effective first-line anti-diabetes agent

The prevention of postprandial hyperglycaemia is among the major objectives of type 2 diabetes therapy. Postprandial hyperglycaemia has a high prevalence among patients with diabetes. It is responsible for short term symptoms of hyperglycaemia and may contribute to the development of long-term complications in terms of micro- and macrovascular disease. Glucobay® is effective for glycaemic control and showed efficacy in the everyday clinical setting.

• Lebovitz H., Diabetes Rev. 6:132-145 (1998)
• Breuer H.-W.M., Int. J. Clin Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 41, 421-440 (2003)

Glucobay maintains its therapeutic activity in the long term

Most anti-diabetes therapies decrease their efficacy in the long term. This often necessitates increasingly complex treatment regimens as the disease progresses. The loss of therapeutic activity is related to a mechanism of action that targets either insulin secretion or insulin resistance - the factors known to deteriorate as diabetes progresses.

The mechanism of action of Glucobay® is independent of beta-cell function and the degree of insulin resistance. Results of a 5-year surveillance study confirmed the ability of Glucobay® to improve glyceamic control - as monotherapy or taken in combination with other anti-diabetes therapies over a period of five years.

• Mertes G., Diab Res Clin Pract., 52: 193-204 (2001)

Glucobay is one of the safest anti-diabetes therapies available

Glucobay® has been shown to have a good safety profile in numerous clinical trials, surveillance studies and over 15 years of routine clinical use. Acarbose acts locally on the small intestine, and only 0.5 - 1.7% is absorbed. This low systemic exposure dramatically reduces the chances of adverse events.

Glucobay® does not increase insulin secretion, and therefore, when used as a monotherapy, has no potential for causing hypoglycaemia.

• Mertes G., Diab Res Clin Pract., 52: 193-204 (2001)
• Breuer H.-W.M., Int. J. Clin Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 41, 421-440 (2003)