This paper studied the heart-related safety and efficacy of saxagliptin (Onglyza) in patients with type 2 diabetes. The authors concluded that saxagliptin did not improve the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have elevated levels of glucose (sugar) in their blood. High blood glucose levels over time can lead to complications such as cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease. Therefore, a main treatment goal of diabetes is to lower blood glucose levels with lifestyle changes and medications. It is important that glucose-lowering medications do not increase the risk of heart-related complications.

Saxagliptin is a type of medication that improves levels of sugar in the body. It is not clear whether saxagliptin improves cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.

16492 patients with type 2 diabetes and history of cardiovascular disease or who were at risk of blood vessel disease were studied. Patients were randomly assigned to receive saxagliptin or a placebo (drug that has no real effect). They were followed for an average of 2.1 years.

36.2% of patients receiving saxagliption achieved blood glucose levels less than 7%, compared to 27.9% of those receiving placebo. 7.3% of patients receiving saxagliptin and 7.2% of patients receiving placebo died from heart-related causes or experienced a heart attack or stroke. Patients receiving saxagliptin were 1.27 times more at risk of being hospitalized for heart failure than patients receiving placebo.

The authors concluded that saxagliptin did not increase or decrease the rate of cardiovascular events, although the rate of hospitalization for heart failure was increased.

If you are taking saxagliptin, talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.