In a surprising revelation, it was found that a recently-approved drug for treating type 2 diabetes and kidney disease can also significantly cut the risk of changes of heart attack and stroke.



High blood pressure and obesity are among the major risk factors for high rates of heart disease and stroke worldwide, as per American Heart Association. Exposure to Covid-19 virus has also doubled the risk for future heart attacks, strokes or premature death from any cause, according to heart .org.



In such a scenario, a new study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has brought to light the benefits of sotagliflozin , approved for type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, in reducing the chances of heart attacks and strokes.




According to experts, the drug commercially available as Inpefa, is the first of its kind medication to provide these distinct cardiovascular benefits , which can also ease development of broader use of the drug.



Sotagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT) inhibitor which helps in blocking two proteins - SGLT1 and SGLT2, responsible for moving glucose and sodium across cell membranes and helping manage blood sugar levels.



“Sotagliflozin is the first SGLT inhibitor to provide a significant reduction in both myocardial infarction and stroke,” the researchers noted in the study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. “The stroke benefit observed in the present study appears to be unique to sotagliflozin, as it has not been observed in trials of selective SGLT2 inhibitors.”



The study involved over 10K patients with chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and additional cardiovascular risk factors. They were randomly given sotagliflozin or a placebo and were followed for an average of 16 months.

People who received sotagliflozin experienced a 23% reduction in heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular-related deaths compared to the placebo group.



“These results demonstrate a new mechanism of action — combined blockade with sotagliflozin of the SGLT1 receptors (found in the kidney, gut, heart, and brain) and SGLT2 receptors (found in the kidney) — to reduce heart attack and stroke risk,” Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, study chair, director of Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, and professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, said in a statement.



“The benefits seen here are distinct from those seen with the other very popular SGLT2 inhibitors in widespread clinical use for diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease,” he added.



If successfully launched, this new drug can tackle multiple chronic threats and help reduce mortality.



“Physicians now have a new option to reduce global cardiovascular risk such as heart failure, progression of kidney disease, heart attack, and stroke in patients with either heart failure or type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and other cardiovascular risk factors,” said Dr. Bhatt.



"This drug was approved to reduce the risk of deaths from cardiovascular causes, hospitalizations for heart failure, and urgent heart failure visits for patients with either heart failure or type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and other cardiovascular risk factors. These important, new data show that it additionally reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and we could see more widespread use as a result," said the expert.