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NewsAdding teneligliptin to a metformin-empagliflozin regimen cut A1c by 0.67% more than placebo over 24 weeks in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes — and the benefit lasted through a full year. The phase 3 trial out of South Korea found no new safety concerns and no cases of severe hypoglycemia, making the triple combo a promising option for patients who aren't hitting their glucose targets.
For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who still can't hit their blood sugar targets on metformin and empagliflozin, adding a third agent — teneligliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor — may be the answer. A phase 3 trial from South Korea found that the triple combination reduced A1c by 0.67% more than placebo at 24 weeks, with improvements appearing as early as week 4 and holding steady through 52 weeks.
The science behind the combo makes sense: SGLT2 inhibitors like empagliflozin lower blood sugar partly by flushing glucose through urine, but this can trigger a compensatory rise in glucagon that blunts the effect. DPP-4 inhibitors like teneligliptin counter that by boosting incretin hormones, which suppress glucagon — essentially addressing a key metabolic limitation of dual therapy.
Why it matters: Many T2D patients remain inadequately controlled on dual therapy, and clinicians need safe, effective add-on options. This trial provides solid evidence that teneligliptin can fill that gap — with a clean safety profile and durable glucose-lowering effects over a full year.
