Henagliflozin's Impact on Prediabetes Remission

This research is launched in light of the global surge in prediabetes, a condition that markedly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and related vascular complications. While lifestyle modifications are the frontline defense against prediabetes, the variability in individual responses often requires the integration of pharmacological treatments. Studies have shown that drugs such as metformin, acarbose, SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists, thiazolidinediones, and orlistat effectively curb the progression to diabetes. Yet, there remains a gap in specific research addressing the intervention needs of the prediabetic population in China. Currently, acarbose is the only drug approved in the Chinese market for treating patients with impaired glucose tolerance, highlighting a limited range of therapeutic options for prediabetes. SGLT2 inhibitors, as a newer class of hypoglycemic agents, have demonstrated significant promise in reducing major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes, enhancing outcomes in heart failure, and providing renal protection. However, there is a scarcity of large-scale, prospective studies on the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors in prediabetes. Henagliflozin, the first original SGLT2 inhibitor developed in China and launched on December 31, 2021, is being studied to assess its effectiveness combined with lifestyle interventions in the prediabetic demographic, aiming to fill a crucial void in the current treatment paradigm. This study aims to assess the combined benefits of Henagliflozin and lifestyle modifications in managing prediabetes. The investigators conducted a two-year prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial across 50 medical institutions in various provinces of China. It is planned to enroll 984 adult prediabetic patients who had not previously been treated with antidiabetic medications. Participants meeting inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Henagliflozin 5mg, Henagliflozin 10mg, or placebo. The intensive intervention phase, consisting of pharmacotherapy combined with lifestyle changes, lasted for 6 months, followed by an 18-month follow-up period focusing solely on lifestyle interventions. The primary endpoint is the proportion of participants achieving normoglycemia after 6 months of intervention, with subsequent assessments at 12 months. Secondary endpoints include short-term (0-12 months) and long-term (12-24 months) changes in glucose control, metabolic indicators such as body weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat content, waist and hip circumference, lipid profiles, blood pressure, serum uric acid levels, hepatic steatosis, and carotid intima-media thickness. Exploratory outcomes encompass changes in C-peptide and insulin levels from baseline to 6 months, and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) from baseline to 24 months and beyond.