Strength of Evidence to Support the Possible Therapeutic Effect of DPP-4 Inhibitors in COVID-19

Abstract

The aim of this study was to demonstrate, with limited retrospective data, that inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), such as sitagliptin, may reduce mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized with COVID-19. This benefit was confirmed in a limited number of 9 patients [6-9]. However, DPP-4 inhibitors have the potential to be effective agents for the treatment of COVID-19, including its anti-inflammatory effects, and may interfere with the invasion of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells by inhibiting CD26. Randomized trials are urgently needed to elucidate the therapeutic role of DPP-4 inhibitors in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. In these trials, it will be necessary to evaluate patients with type 2 diabetes and those without type 2 diabetes to understand the extent to which DPP-4 is beneficial.