http://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmaceuticals/special_issues/antidiabetic-drugs/ Submission All manuscripts should be submitted to pharmaceuticals@mdpi.com with a copy to the Guest Editor. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website. Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI.   Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. Article Processing Charges (APC) for publication in this Open Access journal will be waived for well-prepared manuscripts submitted before 30 June 2010. English correction and/or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those articles accepted for publication that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/9/3005/ Type 2 diabetes is a syndrome characterized by relative insulin deficiency, insulin resistance and increased hepatic glucose output. Medications used to treat the disease are designed to correct one or more of these metabolic abnormalities. Current recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) include diet and exercise as first-line therapy plus hypoglycemic drugs. Actually there are seven distinct classes of anti-hyperglicemic agents, each of them displaying unique pharmacologic properties. The aim of this review is to describe the pathophysiological basis of their mechanism of action, a necessary step to individualize treatment of diabetic people, taking into proper consideration potential benefits and secondary effects of drugs. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/9/3005/ Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CEST Pharmaceuticals 2010-09-15 3 9 Review 3005 3020 1424-8247 Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs: Pathophysiological Basis of Their Mechanism of ActionOral Hypoglycemic Drugs: Pathophysiological Basis of Their Mechanism of Action 2010-09-15 doi: 10.3390/ph3093005 Bartolomeo Lorenzati Chiara Zucco Sara Miglietta Federico Lamberti Graziella Bruno http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/8/2610/ A variety of treatment modalities exist for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). In addition to dietary and physical activity interventions, T2D is also treated pharmacologically with nine major classes of approved drugs. These medications include insulin and its analogues, sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), meglitinides, α-glucosidase inhibitors, amylin analogues, incretin hormone mimetics, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors. Pharmacological treatment strategies for T2D are typically based on efficacy, yet favorable responses to such therapeutics are oftentimes variable and difficult to predict. Characterization of drug response is expected to substantially enhance our ability to provide patients with the most effective treatment strategy given their individual backgrounds, yet pharmacogenetic study of diabetes medications is still in its infancy. To date, major pharmacogenetic studies have focused on response to sulfonylureas, biguanides, and TZDs. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of pharmacogenetics investigations of these specific anti-diabetes medications. We focus not only on the results of these studies, but also on how experimental design, study sample issues, and definition of ‘response’ can significantly impact our interpretation of findings. Understanding the pharmacogenetics of anti-diabetes medications will provide critical baseline information for the development and implementation of genetic screening into therapeutic decision making, and lay the foundation for “individualized medicine” for patients with T2D. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/8/2610/ Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CEST Pharmaceuticals 2010-08-13 3 8 Review 2610 2646 1424-8247 Pharmacogenetics of Anti-Diabetes Drugs 2010-08-13 doi: 10.3390/ph3082610 Johanna K. DiStefano Richard M. Watanabe http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/8/2554/ Exenatide is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonist that has been approved in the UK for use in the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) since 2006. It acts by increasing glucose-induced insulin release and by reducing glucagon secretion postprandially. It therefore increases insulin secretion and reduces glucose levels, especially postprandially. It also reduces gastric emptying and acts centrally to promote satiety. In clinical practice it reduces HbA1c (range; -0.4% to -1.3%), fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels and is the only antidiabetic agent (together with liraglutide; a human GLP-1 analogue) to promote weight loss (range; -1.5 kg to -5.5 kg). It can be used as monotherapy or in combination with metformin and/or sulphonylureas (SU) and/or thiazolinediones (TZD). When compared with insulin it causes similar reductions in HbA1c and glucose levels, but unlike insulin it has the advantage of inducing weight loss. Its main side effect is gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances; nausea is the commonest GI adverse effect, albeit usually mild and transient. Hypoglycaemia is uncommon, especially when used as monotherapy or in combination with metformin. In this review article we scrutinize the currently available evidence for use of exenatide in the management of T2DM. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/8/2554/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CEST Pharmaceuticals 2010-08-11 3 8 Review 2554 2567 1424-8247 Exenatide Use in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus 2010-08-11 doi: 10.3390/ph3082554 Angelos Kyriacou Abu Baker Ahmed http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/3/764/ Although advances have been achieved in the management of type 2 diabetes, current treatment options for patients with this disease still fail to address disease progression, glycaemic control remains suboptimal and therapies are often associated with weight gain and hypoglycaemia. Thus, new antidiabetes therapies are being sought. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are incretin hormones that have been the recent focus of research. The physiological action of GLP-1, in particular, has demonstrated its potential in addressing the therapeutic needs of patients with type 2 diabetes. To exploit this action, liraglutide, a human GLP-1 analogue that shares 97% of its amino acid sequence identity with native GLP-1, has been developed. In a recent phase 3 trial programme (LEAD, Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes), treatment with liraglutide was associated with substantial improvements in glycaemic control and low risk of hypoglycaemia. In addition, reductions in weight and systolic blood pressure were reported. There is also an indication that liraglutide is capable of improving β-cell function and increasing β-cell mass. Thus, liraglutide may overcome the limitations with current therapies and help to address the unmet clinical needs of patients with type 2 diabetes. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/3/764/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 CET Pharmaceuticals 2010-03-22 3 3 Review 764 781 1424-8247 Liraglutide Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: Overcoming Unmet Needs 2010-03-22 doi: 10.3390/ph3030764 Sjöholm