Trends and perspectives in the development of antidiabetic drugs for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder which results from a high blood glucose level, is one of the most prevalent and costly diseases of our time. Considering increasing rates of obesity and the aging population in Korea, the number of diabetic patients is likely to rise rapidly in the future. There are five conventional diabetic drugs which work through different mechanisms; sulfonylureas, biguanide, meglitinide, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and thiazolidinedione. Although they all have antidiabetic effects, some side effects such as hypoglycemia, weight gain and gastrointestinal intolerance are associated with them. Incretin based therapies, utilizing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, which have a lower risk of adverse side effects, have recently been introduced. At present PPAR-targeting drugs are being actively developed. In this research review, particular emphasis has been placed on the current trends and possible biological targets for the new generation of antidiabetic drugs.