DPP-4 inhibitors may not be linked to increased heart attack risk.

The Wall Street Journal (9/3, Wang, Subscription Publication, 5.33M) reports that research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that the diabetes medications known as DPP-4 inhibitors may not be linked to an increased heart attack risk.

        Reuters (9/3, Hirschler) reports that one study involved Onglyza (saxagliptin) and the other involved Nesina (alogliptin).

        HealthDay (9/3, 2K) reports that in the saxagliptin study, researchers found that “Onglyza has no effect...on a patient’s risk for heart attacks,” but they “did find a surprising rise in hospitalizations for heart failure among those who took the medication compared to those who did not.” Meanwhile, in the alogliptin study, investigators “said they found no increase in cardiovascular events for those using Nesina compared to those on a placebo.”

        MedPage Today (9/3, Peck, 185K) reports, however, that “the bad news is the two drugs” did not “reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.”