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Sulfonylureas are inexpensive, but their adverse event and safety profile compared with newer more-costly diabetes drugs might be unfavorable. In an industry-funded trial — which included employees of linagliptin's manufacturer on the study team — more than 6000 patients were randomized to oral linagliptin (Tradjenta; 5 mg/day) or glimepiride (1 mg/day, titrated up to 4 mg/day). Patients (mean age, 64) were either naive to sulfonylurea therapy or had discontinued this therapy, were at high risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease, and had glycosylated hemoglobin levels of 6.5% to 8.5%. Patients otherwise were treated as needed for glycemic control or other conditions.
During a median follow-up of longer than 6 years, no significant difference wa…