Saroglitazar Mg (Lipaglyn) is now approved in the treatment of type 2 diabetes as an add-on therapy with metformin. The drug was had been approved in 2013 in India for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and diabetic dyslipidemia.

The drug is an effective insulin sensitizer.  The recommended dose of the drug is one 4 mg tablet once daily. Saroglitazar has less potential for hypoglycemia. While no major serious adverse events have been reported with the drug, long-term cardiovascular safety still needs to be established. One tablet costs 30 Rs.

The novel glucose- and lipid-lowering drug is currently available only in India. The drug, a dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha/gamma agonist is also used in nonalcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD), and lipodystrophy.

Although saroglitazar is a PPAR agonist, its structure differs from those of the thiazolidinediones (glitazones), fibrates, and even other glitazars. It doesnt seem to lead to the weight gain or edema observed with many of those agents. 

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA