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Glyset (MIGLITOL)
Glyset works by delaying the breakdown of carbohydrates in the gut, allowing less glucose to enter the bloodstream.
Glyset (Miglitol) is a small molecule alpha-glucosidase inhibitor developed by Pharmacia and Upjohn, now owned by Pfizer. It targets lysosomal alpha-glucosidase to delay carbohydrate absorption, making it a treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Glyset was FDA-approved in 1996 and is now off-patent, with a generic version available. The drug has a half-life of 2.3 hours and 60% bioavailability. Key safety considerations include gastrointestinal side effects.
At a glance
| Generic name | MIGLITOL |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Pfizer |
| Drug class | alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor |
| Target | Lysosomal alpha-glucosidase |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Metabolic |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 1996 |
Mechanism of action
Mechanism of Action. In contrast to sulfonylureas, miglitol tablets do not enhance insulin secretion. The antihyperglycemic action of miglitol results from reversible inhibition of membrane-bound intestinal -glucoside hydrolase enzymes. Membrane-bound intestinal -glucosidases hydrolyze oligosaccharides and disaccharides to glucose and other monosaccharides in the brush border of the small intestine. In diabetic patients, this enzyme inhibition results in delayed glucose absorption and lowering of postprandial hyperglycemia.Because its mechanism of action is different, the effect of miglitol tablets to enhance glycemic control is additive to that of sulfonylureas when used in combination. In addition, miglitol tablets diminish the insulinotropic and weight-increasing effects of sulfonylureas.Miglitol has minor inhibitory activity against lactase and consequently, at the recommended doses, would not be expected to induce lactose intolerance.
Approved indications
- Diabetes mellitus type 2
Common side effects
- Flatulence
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Low serum iron
- Skin rash
- Abdominal distention
- Gastrointestinal pain
- Nausea
- Ileus
- Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
Drug interactions
- ciprofloxacin
- gatifloxacin
- levofloxacin
- norfloxacin
- ofloxacin
- pramlintide
Key clinical trials
- A Study for Comparison of Canagliflozin Versus Alternative Antihyperglycemic Treatments on Risk of Heart Failure Hospitalization and Amputation for Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Subpopulation With Established Cardiovascular Disease
- A Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of ASP1941 in Combination With α-glucosidase Inhibitor in Type 2 Diabetic Patients (PHASE3)
- Real-World Evaluation of Omarigliptin for Type 2 Diabetes Meliitus in Bangladesh (PHASE4)
- Omarigliptin (MK-3102) Clinical Trial - Add-on to Oral Antihyperglycemic Agent Study in Japanese Participants With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (MK-3102-015) (PHASE3)
- Incretin-based Drugs and Acute Pancreatitis
- Incretin-based Drugs and the Risk of Heart Failure
- Incretin-based Drugs and Pancreatic Cancer
- A Study to Assess Drug-Drug Interaction Between ASP1941 and Miglitol (PHASE1)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Glyset CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Glyset updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Pfizer portfolio CI