Bexagliflozin (Brenzavvy) is a newly approved drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 and is expected to be available to patients in the coming months. Bexagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, which means it works by blocking glucose reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby increasing glucose excretion in the urine.
Clinical trials have shown that bexagliflozin is effective in lowering blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. In a phase 3 trial, patients who received bexagliflozin showed a significant reduction in HbA1c levels compared to those who received a placebo. Additionally, bexagliflozin was shown to be effective in reducing body weight and blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Like other SGLT2 inhibitors, bexagliflozin may increase the risk of genital and urinary tract infections, as well as hypoglycemia when used in combination with insulin or other glucose-lowering medications. Patients with kidney disease may also be at increased risk of side effects.
Bexagliflozin adds to the growing number of SGLT2 inhibitors available for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Other SGLT2 inhibitors include canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, ertugliflozin, and ipragliflozin. SGLT2 inhibitors have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their effectiveness in lowering blood glucose levels, reducing body weight, and lowering blood pressure.
The Differences
Unfortunately, bexagliflozin does not have compelling evidence that it is better than any of the other FDA approved SGLT2 inhibitors such as dapagliflozin (Farxiga), empagliflozin (Jardiance), or canagliflozin (Invokana), which have been shown to have benefit in heart failure. On the bright side, more competition within the SGLT2 inhibitor class may help to reduce costs and increase patient access to an important drugs. Pricing information for Brenzavvy has not yet been released – it is expected to become available yet this year.
Official Prescribing information: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/214646s000lbl.pdf