Imeglimin: a new antidiabetic drug with potential for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes

Imeglimin (IMEG) is the first drug of the "glimin" group. Glimin is a new group of hypoglycaemic drugs for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The chemical structure and action mechanism of the drug are presented in the paper. Imeglimin is unique and different in action compared to other hypoglycaemic drugs. Imeglimin has been shown to have a beneficial effect on 3 key pathogenetic elements of T2DM, i.e., 1. increased gluconeogenesis, 2. inadequate glucose-induced insulin secretion by beta cells, and 3. peripheral insulin resistance. The peak effect on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels of IMEG is reached after 16 weeks of treatment. Subjects receiving IMEG at 1000- and 1500-mg doses twice daily also achieved significantly greater reductions in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels at week 24 compared to the placebo group (IMEG in humans causes increased insulin secretion as well as reductions in fasting plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin). This paper also presents the pharmacokinetics of IMEG action, clinical evidence for its efficacy, results of phase II and III clinical trials, and drug tolerability. Our paper seems to show that IMEG, with its novel mechanism of action, has a chance to improve treatment results in a larger population of T2DM patients.