MOSBY-ELSEVIER360 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, NEW YORK, NY 10010-1710
Abstract
Background Ertugliflozin is an inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2), approved in the United States and
European Union to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The VERTIS cardiovascular (CV)
outcomes trial (NCT01986881) has a primary objective to demonstrate non-inferiority of ertugliflozin versus placebo on major
adverse CV events: time to the first event of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Secondary objectives
are to demonstrate superiority of ertugliflozin versus placebo on time to: 1) the composite outcome of CV death or
hospitalization for heart failure (HF); 2) CV death; and 3) the composite outcome of renal death, dialysis/transplant, or
doubling of serum creatinine from baseline.
Methods Patients ≥40 years old with T2DM (HbA1c 7.0–10.5%) and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
(ASCVD) of the coronary, cerebral, and/or peripheral arterial systems, were randomized 1:1:1 to once daily double-blind
placebo, ertugliflozin 5 mg or 15 mg added to existing therapy.
Results 8246 patients were randomized and 8238 received at least 1 dose of investigational product. Mean age was
64.4 years, 11.0% were ≥75 years old, and mean diabetes duration was 12.9 years with screening HbA1c of 8.3%. At entry,
coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease were present in 76.3%, 23.1%, and 18.8%
of patients, respectively. HF was present in 23.1%, and Stage 3 kidney disease in 21.6% of patients.
Conclusion The results from the VERTIS-CV trial will define the CV and renal safety and efficacy of ertugliflozin in patients
with T2DM and ASCVD. (Am Heart J 2018;206:11-23.