Targeting Gender Difference in the Introduction of New Drugs for Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Disorders

Flavia Franconi; Ciriaco Carru; Silvia Canu; Giuseppe Seghieri

doi:10.2174/187221407780832028

Abstract

This review summarizes the important issue of gender difference in drug response as regards the therapeutic aspect of drugs utilized for diabetes mellitus and related disorders. Although, gender differences have been individuated both in experimental and clinical setting their role in clinical practice is not yet completely investigated. Indeed, they are involved in pharmacodinamyc and pharmacokinetics of antidiabetic drugs but the lack of a gender analysis and the reduced enrollement of women in clinical studies contributes widely to this uncertainty. Since sex is a fundamental biological variable that cannot be discounted, gender differences in pharmacology has to be considered in order to improve drug safety efficacy and to optimize medical therapy both in diabetic men and women also considering the higher incidence, the worst outcome and the higher mortality for cardiovascular diseases of diabetic women in comparison with diabetic men. New drugs, as well as new patents which are considered in this review, need to take into account these recommendations.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, metabolic disorders, Akt phosphorylation, glucagons like peptide 1 and 2, DPP IV inhibitors, ATP potassium channel blockers, Insulin, Metformin