Summary

Antihyperglycemic therapies have been shown to reduce microvascular events; however, their impact on macrovascular events has not been well established. Saxagliptin and alogliptin, both selective dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, are incretin-based antihyperglycemic therapies that improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This article discusses the purpose of the SAVOR-TIMI 53 and EXAMINE trials was to determine if treatment with saxagliptin or alogliptin, respectively, would be noninferior to placebo for major adverse cardiac events in patients with T2DM at heightened risk of CV events [Scirica BM et al. Am Heart J 2011; White WB et al. N Engl J Med 2013].