Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
Mouse Electroacupuncture Fixation Device Fabrication for Electroacupuncture Pretreatment in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 18, 2025
Pharmacologic Approaches Against Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) in Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease
Antonio Nenna1, Francesco Nappi2, Sanjeet Singh Avtaar Singh3
1Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Rome University of Campus Bio Medico, Rome, Italy.
Context:
Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) are signaling proteins associated to several vascular and neurological complications in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. AGEs proved to be a marker of negative outcome in both diabetes management and surgical procedures in these patients. The reported role of AGEs prompted the development of pharmacological inhibitors of their effects, giving rise to a number of both preclinical and clinical studies. Clinical trials with anti-AGEs drugs have been gradually developed and this review aimed to summarize most relevant reports.
Evidence Acquisition:
Evidence acquisition process was performed using PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov with manually checked articles.
Results:
Pharmacological approaches in humans include aminoguanidine, pyridoxamine, benfotiamine, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, statin, ALT-711 (alagebrium) and thiazolidinediones. The most recent promising anti-AGEs agents are statins, alagebrium and thiazolidinediones. The role of AGEs in disease and new compounds interfering with their effects are currently under investigation in preclinical settings and these newer anti-AGEs drugs would undergo clinical evaluation in the next years. Compounds with anti-AGEs activity but still not available for clinical scenarios are ALT-946, OPB-9195, tenilsetam, LR-90, TM2002, sRAGE and PEDF.
Conclusions:
Despite most studies confirm the efficacy of these pharmacological approaches, other reports produced conflicting evidences; in almost any case, these drugs were well tolerated. At present, AGEs measurement has still not taken a precise role in clinical practice, but its relevance as a marker of disease has been widely shown; therefore, it is important for clinicians to understand the value of new cardiovascular risk factors. Findings from the current and future clinical trials may help in determining the role of AGEs and the benefits of anti-AGEs treatment in cardiovascular disease.
Insights
Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) are linked to vascular and neurological issues. This review summarizes clinical trials of anti-AGEs drugs, finding most are well-tolerated, though efficacy evidence varies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs) are signaling proteins implicated in vascular and neurological complications.
- AGEs serve as a marker for adverse outcomes in diabetes management and surgical procedures.
- The established role of AGEs has driven the development of pharmacological inhibitors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize relevant clinical studies on anti-AGEs drugs.
- To assess the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological approaches targeting AGEs.
- To discuss the current and future role of AGEs measurement and anti-AGEs treatments in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Literature search conducted on PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Manual verification of acquired articles.
- Systematic review of clinical trial data for anti-AGEs agents.
Main Results:
- Several pharmacological approaches targeting AGEs have been investigated in humans, including statins, alagebrium (ALT-711), and thiazolidinediones.
- Most reviewed anti-AGEs drugs demonstrated good tolerability in clinical trials.
- Newer anti-AGEs compounds are under preclinical investigation and expected to enter clinical evaluation.
Conclusions:
- While efficacy data is sometimes conflicting, anti-AGEs drugs are generally well-tolerated.
- AGEs measurement is not yet standard in clinical practice but is recognized as a significant disease marker.
- Future clinical trials are crucial to define the role of AGEs and anti-AGEs therapies in cardiovascular disease management.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
01:24Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by...
01:26Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
01:26Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones
01:19Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are...
01:23Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors