Canagliflozin is an oral antidiabetic drug from the class of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which reduces not only blood glucose, but also blood pressure and body weight by inhibiting glucose reabsorption in the kidneys. The efficacy of canagliflozin in monotherapy or in combination with other antidiabetics in patients with uncontrolled diabetes has been demonstrated in the CANTATA-M, CANTATA-D, CANTATA-MSU and CANTATA-D2 trials, which demonstrated higher efficacy of canagliflozin compared to placebo and sitagliptin.
Additionally, the CANVAS and CREDENCE trials showed a beneficial effect of canagliflozin on the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), frequency of hospitalisation for heart failure and the incidence of renal events (such as worsening of renal function or death from renal causes). Canagliflozin was well tolerated and the overall incidence of adverse events with canagliflozin and placebo was similar.