The α-glucosidase inhibitor voglibose (AO-128) was designed to prevent rapid postprandial blood glucose rises in non-insulin-dependent diabetics. We analyzed its effect on the entero-insular axis in 72 healthy volunteers in a double-blind study design before, after the 1st dose, and on the 7th day of a 7-day treatment protocol (3 daily loads). Six parallel groups of 12 volunteers received voglibose (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 mg) or placebo (two groups). Blood was drawn at regular intervals up to 180 min after a standardized breakfast to analyze the levels of glucose, insulin, C peptide, gastric inhibitory polypeptide, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). As expected, after ingestion of voglibose, slight to moderate gastro-intestinal discomfort but no severe side-effects were reported. In a dose-dependent manner, voglibose significantly reduced postprandial increases of blood glucose, insulin, and C peptide. At the lower loads (0.5 and 1 mg voglibose three times daily), these effects were more pronounced after 7 days. The postprandial increase of gastric inhibitory polypeptide was already reduced after the first load of 2 and 5 mg voglibose. In comparison to the placebo group, this inhibition became also significant for the lower loads after 7 days. Interestingly, GLP-1, originating from the lower intestines, was increasingly released under voglibose treatment. The first administration of 1 mg voglibose enhanced GLP-1 secretion > 80% above controls. Treatment with 1 mg voglibose three times daily over 7 days revealed a maximal mobilizing effect on endogenous GLP-1 ( > 90% above controls) which was not further increased by 2- or 5-mg loads. We conclude that voglibose treatment effectively inhibits intestinal disaccharidases and thereby mobilizes the endogenous pool of insulinotropic GLP-1.

Voglibose modified neither the pharmacodynamics nor the pharmacokinetics of warfarin under steady-state conditions. Concomitant treatment was well tolerated and has been proven to be safe for further clinical use.

Pantoprazole does not interact with the anticoagulant phenprocoumon on a pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic level. Concomitant treatment was well tolerated.

Aims Concomitant administration of magnesium hydroxide may affect the rate or extent of absorption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In order to find out whether or not buffering modifies the pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen, plasma concentration-time courses resulting from oral administration of unbuffered formulations were compared with those of buffered formulations. Methods Two groups of 12 healthy and young male subjects were included in two randomized cross-over studies and received single oral doses of ketoprofen 12.5 or 25 mg, respectively, given as tablets which were either unbuffered or buffered with magnesium hydroxide/citrate. Ketoprofen enantiomers in plasma were determined by h.p.l.c. up to 24 h post-dose. Results Maximum plasma concentrations (C max ) of both the (R)-and (S)-enantiomer, observed after administration of the buffered formulations (12.5 and 25 mg), were higher compared with the unbuffered tablets by about 50-80%. The area under concentration-time data (AUC) was unaffected, and, hence, C max /AUC was increased by buffering. Time to C max (t max ) and mean residence time (MRT) tended to be or was shortened by buffering. Conclusions It is concluded that buffering of two ketoprofen formulations with magnesium hydroxide/citrate enhanced the concentration maximum by increasing the rate of absorption and leaving AUC unaffected.