Conditions: Psoriasis Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Keywords: Psoriasis Type 2 Diabetes Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibition Sitagliptin Gliclazide Psoriasis area and severity index
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 20
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The primary purpose of this study is to determine if sitagliptin (Januvia®) improves psoriasis severity after 16 weeks of treatment in 20 participants with both psoriasis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We will compare the change in psoriasis severity in 20 participants treated with Januvia® to 20 participants treated with 16 weeks of a comparator drug (gliclazide, Diamicron®). Participants will be recruited from two centres and after a 4 week washout period will be followed prospectively for 36 weeks. Participants will be stratified by centre, psoriasis severity and obesity status after which they will be randomly allocated to Arm A or Arm B. Participants will be treated with either Januvia® and Diamicron® matched placebo capsules (Arm A), or Diamicron® and Januvia® matched placebo tablets (Arm B) for 16 weeks and then proceed to an open-label phase where all participants will receive Januvia® for a further 16 weeks.

Both the research participants and the investigators will be unaware of the trial arm to which the research participant has been allocated (double-blind study). Research participants will be prohibited from making any changes to the dose of medications used to treat psoriasis. If a participant's plasma glycated haemoglobin level (HbA1c) (reflects a participant's glucose control over the previous 3 months) is above 64mmol/mol eight weeks after commencing one of the study investigational medicinal products (IMPs) insulin therapy will be used to improve glycaemic control.

Participants will be assessed at 9 study visits over 40 weeks. Participants will complete questionnaires, have a medical history recorded and physical examination, blood sampling and skin biopsies taken (in a small number of willing participants at 3 visits).

The following endpoints will be analysed:

Changes in psoriasis severity at 16 and 32 weeks; changes in validated quality of life scores; incidence of adverse events; incidence of discontinuation of one of the study IMPs, time to relapse of psoriasis; changes in cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles; changes in cytokines, hormones, expression of immune proteins in blood and skin biopsies; and genetic profiles that predicts best response to sitagliptin therapy.

We hypothesize that sitagliptin therapy decreases psoriasis severity.

Detailed description:
Background:

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin disease affecting approximately 2% of the world's population. It is characterised by keratinocyte hyperproliferation, by aberrant keratinocyte differentiation and by cutaneous inflammation.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is expressed on keratinocytes and its activity is upregulated in psoriasis. DPP-4 inhibition suppresses keratinocyte proliferation and restores partially keratinocyte differentiation. The main site of DPP-4 activity is cluster of differentiation antigen 26 (CD26). CD26 is a marker of T cell activation and is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. One case of DPP-4 inhibitor therapy improving psoriasis severity has been reported.

Agents used to treat psoriasis target commonly the underlying inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive, systemic marker of inflammation. In people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) DPP-4 inhibitor therapy decreases CRP concentrations. Serum CRP concentrations correlate with psoriasis severity and interventions that decrease the CRP concentration may decrease also psoriasis severity. Medications that improve insulin resistance may decrease also systemic inflammation and improve psoriasis. We have shown previously, in psoriasis patients without T2DM (both lean and obese), that the fasting insulin concentration and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance (measures of insulin resistance) correlate strongly with the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI, a measure of psoriasis severity: r=0.48, p\<0.001; r=0.49, p\<0.001).

DPP-4 inhibitors prevent also the degradation of insulin secretagogues, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), thereby ameliorating hyperglycaemia without causing hypoglycaemia. Due to this effect DPP-4 inhibitors are effective for the treatment of T2DM. Other interventions which increase GLP-1 receptor activation, such as roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and GLP-1 analogue therapy, can improve also psoriasis severity.

We have reported previously a significant improvement in two patients with psoriasis and diabetes treated with the GLP-1 analogue liraglutide. In a subsequent open study of 7 patients with both psoriasis and type 2 diabetes we found a significant reduction in psoriasis severity and a significant improvement in quality of life following treatment with liraglutide.

Name and Description of the Investigational Medicinal Products(s):

Four investigational medicinal products will be used in this clinical trial:

1. Januvia® 50 mg film-coated tablets, which are film-coated tablets for oral ingestion that contain 50mg of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin.
2. Januvia® matched placebo tablets, which are tablets that are identical appearance and composition to Januvia® 50mg tablets with the exception of not containing sitagliptin, the active ingredient.
3. Capsules containing Diamicron® 80mg tablets, which are tablets for oral ingestion that contain 80mg of the sulphonylurea gliclazide; and
4. Diamicron® matched capsules, which will be identical in appearance and composition to capsules containing Diamicron® 80mg tablets with the exception of not containing the Diamicron® 80mg tablet.

Potential risks and benefits:

More than 1% of people who take Januvia® tablets experience upper respiratory tract infection (no greater incidence than with placebo), hypoglycaemia (no greater incidence than with placebo), headache or limb pain.

The potential benefits of DPP-4 inhibition include decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and decreased risk of bone fracture.

In the ADVANCE trial participants allocated randomly to receive Diamicron modified release (MR)® tablets (n=5,571), when compared to their counterparts allocated to standard glucose control (n=5,569), experienced a greater incidence of severe hypoglycaemia (0.7 events per 100 patients per year versus 0.4 events per 100 patients per year), a greater incidence of hospitalisation (44.9% versus 42.8%) and less of a decrease in weight (0.7kg in the difference).

On the other hand, ADVANCE trial participants who were allocated to receive Diamicron MR® experienced improved glycaemic control (mean glycated haemoglobin \[HbA1c\] 6.5% versus 7.3%), improved blood pressure control (mean systolic blood pressure 135.5mmHg versus 137.9mmHg) and a decreased incidence of new or worsening nephropathy (4.1% versus 5.2%).

The anticipated benefits of Januvia® or Diamicron® therapy in psoriasis patients with type 2 diabetes thus justify the potential risks.

Description of and justification for the route of administration, dosage, dosage regimen and treatment period:

This will be a two centre, forty week, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial of oral Januvia® (sitagliptin) tablets and oral Diamicron® (gliclazide) capsules in 40 people with type 2 diabetes and psoriasis.

For the first four weeks participants who are in receipt of sulphonylurea or incretin therapy will stop taking this medication. During this period research participants will not receive either investigational medicinal product (IMP).

After this four week washout period research participants will be stratified by centre, by psoriasis severity (PASI 7-10, 10.1-13 or \>13) and by obesity status (BMI 18-24.9kg/m2, 25-29.9kg/m2 or \>30kg/m2) after which they will be allocated randomly, in a 1:1 ratio using blocks, either to Arm A or to Arm B.

Research participants allocated to Arm A will receive an eighteen week supply of Januvia® 50mg tablets (DPP-4 inhibitor) and will receive a six week supply of Diamicron® matched placebo capsules (during visit 2). The research participants will be instructed to ingest orally two Januvia® 50mg tablets once daily for 16 weeks (until visit 5) and to ingest also one Diamicron® matched placebo capsule once daily for 4 weeks (until visit 3). If a participant has an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 50ml/min/1.73m2 the participant will be instructed to ingest orally one Januvia® 50mg tablet once daily (in addition to one Diamicron® matched placebo). After four weeks research participants allocated to Arm A will receive a further six week supply of Diamicron® matched placebo capsules, provided that they have not experienced any severe hypoglycaemic episodes. At this stage they will be instructed to ingest orally one capsule twice daily for 4 weeks (until visit 4). After four weeks research participants allocated to Arm A will receive a further ten week supply of Diamicron® matched placebo capsules, provided that they have not experienced any severe hypoglycaemic episodes, and will be instructed to ingest orally two capsules twice daily for 8 weeks (until visit 5).

Research participants allocated to Arm B will receive an eighteen week supply of Januvia® matched placebo tablets and will receive a six week supply of capsules each containing a Diamicron® 80mg tablet (sulphonylurea, during visit 2). The research participants will be instructed to ingest orally two Januvia® matched placebo tablets once daily for 16 weeks (until visit 5) and to ingest also one capsule containing a Diamicron® 80mg tablet once daily for 4 weeks (until visit 3). If a participant has an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 50ml/min/1.73m2 the participant will be instructed to ingest orally one Januvia® matched placebo tablet once daily (in addition to capsules containing Diamicron® 80mg tablets). After four weeks research participants allocated to Arm B will receive a further six weeks supply of capsules containing a Diamicron® 80mg tablet, provided that they have not experienced any severe hypoglycaemic episodes. At this stage they will be instructed to ingest orally one capsule twice daily for 4 weeks (until visit 4). After four weeks research participants allocated to Arm B will receive a further ten weeks supply of capsules containing a Diamicron® 80mg tablet, provided that they have not experienced any severe hypoglycaemic episodes, and will be instructed to ingest orally two capsules twice daily for 8 weeks (until visit 5).

The Januvia® 50mg tablets will be identical in appearance to the Januvia® matched placebo tablets. Similarly the capsules containing a Diamicron® 80mg tablet will be identical in appearance to the Diamicron® matched capsules.

Participants will be advised to take Diamicron® / Diamicron® matched capsules immediately prior to food intake/main meals.

After the initial sixteen weeks of treatment all research participants (in both Arm A and Arm B) will progress to the open-label phase of the trial, and will receive an eighteen week supply of Januvia® 50mg tablets (DPP-4 Inhibitor) and will be instructed to ingest orally two tablets once daily for sixteen weeks (unless the eGFR is \<50ml/min/1.73m2 in which case the participants will be instructed to ingest orally one tablet once daily for the sixteen weeks).

Neither the research participants nor the investigators will be aware of the trial arm to which the research participant has been allocated (double-blinded study). After sixteen weeks both the research participants and the investigators will be aware that the research participants are receiving Januvia® 50mg tablets (open-label extension). Research participants will be prohibited from making any changes to the dose of medications used to treat psoriasis. If a participant's plasma glycated haemoglobin level (HbA1c) is above 64mmol/mol eight weeks after commencing one of the study IMPs insulin therapy will be used to improve glycaemic control. Participants who are already in receipt of metformin therapy will continue to take this medication. Every effort will be made not to make any (other) changes to the participant's current regimen of anti-psoriasis or anti-diabetes medications for the duration of their involvement in the study. Participants who require insulin therapy will be referred to the diabetes centre for standard initiation of insulin therapy and for monitoring of capillary glucose levels. Any other medications that are considered necessary for the participant's welfare and will not interfere with the study medication may be given at the discretion of the Investigator.

Januvia® is licensed to improve glycaemic control for people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) states that the dose of Januvia® is 100mg once daily (using tablets for oral ingestion). For research participants with moderate kidney disease (CrCl \< 50 ml/min or eGFR \< 50 ml/min/1.73m2), the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) states that the dose of Januvia® is 50mg once daily (using tablets for oral ingestion). In keeping with this all participants with an eGFR \< 50ml/min/1.73m2 who are due to receive Januvia® will receive 50mg once daily.

The dose of Diamicron® to be used in the study (80mg per day initially and increasing to 320mg per day in successive steps) is consistent with the doses stated in the SPC for the marketed product.

Study Hypothesis:

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor therapy decreases psoriasis severity.

Statement of Trial Conduct:

This trial will be conducted in compliance with the protocol, with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki (see Appendix 2), with the International Conference of Harmonisation Tripartite Guideline on Good Clinical Practice, with all applicable regulatory requirements and with data protection legislation (Data Protection Act 1988 and Data Protection Amendment Act 2003)

Cohort:

The population to be studied will be psoriasis patients with type 2 diabetes.

We plan to enrol 40 research participants in total. Research participants will be recruited from two centres: St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4 and Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24. These hospitals provide outpatient dermatology services. Psoriasis patients attending these centres who have a psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) greater than 7 and who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will be will be considered potentially eligible research participants and will be invited to attend for a screening visit.

Identification and Recruitment:

Potentially eligible research participants will be identified through use of patient databases in St Vincent's University Hospital and in Adelaide and Meath Hospital and through review of healthcare records in St Vincent's University Hospital and in Adelaide and Meath Hospital.

Potentially eligible research participants will be recruited in one of two ways by the study investigators or suitably qualified designee. One of these two ways will be during a clinic visit by the study investigators or suitably qualified designee. The other of the two ways will be mailing a letter of invitation. Before a potential research participant is mailed a letter of invitation.

A record of all medication taken by study participants in the month before visit 1 and concomitant medication a participant takes throughout the study will be recorded on the appropriate page of the Case Report Form (CRF).

Treatment compliance of research participants will be measured by pill counts. Research participants will be instructed to bring opened, unopened and empty investigational medicinal product packages to each visit in order to allow the assessment of compliance with study treatment. A record of all investigational medicinal product dispensed and returned will be documented on the investigational medicinal product dispensing and accountability log. Blood taken during stages when the participant is expected to be taking drug therapy will be used for future determination of plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin concentrations. These concentrations will also be used to help ascertain compliance with the allocated treatment regimen.

Blood samples for measurement of laboratory parameters will be taken between the hours of 0800 and 1200 after a greater than 12 hour overnight fast (with the exception of the Screening Visit when participants can attend in a non fasting state) and before ingestion of the study investigational medicinal product. The blood will be taken by a senior clinician, or suitably qualified designee, with competence and experience in the procedure of venepuncture.

73.5ml of blood will be drawn from the research participants during Visit 2, 60ml of blood will be drawn during visits 3, 4, 6 \& 7, 67.5 mls during visits 5 \& 8, and 30ml of blood will be drawn during visit 1 and visit 9. Blood will be drawn into vacutainer tubes containing either ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), lithium heparin, sodium fluoride, clot activator or a DPP4 inhibitor cocktail.

Each research participant will be asked to give a blood sample for genetic analysis at the 2nd Visit. These genetic samples will be analysed to try determine the genetic, and/or epigenetic, profile that predicts best response to DPP-4 inhibitor therapy.

Whole blood will be stored for future DNA extraction using the protocols detailed in the Molecular Medicine Ireland Guideline for Standardised Biobanking (First Edition 2010). This involves drawing blood into a blood tube containing EDTA and storing the blood tube at -20°C in secure, dedicated freezers in the Research Laboratories in the Education and Research Centre in St Vincent's University Hospital. The blood will be stored within 12 hours of blood collection.

Blood that has been stored for future DNA extraction will be destroyed once the DNA analyses are complete. Disposal of this material will be in accordance with current practice in this unit and with the written protocols in place in this unit. Disposal will involve the use of solid plastic waste containers which will be sent for incineration.

To protect the research participant's identity, a unique identification code will be assigned by the Investigator, or authorised designee, to each participant's genetic sample and used in lieu of the participant's name. This coded form of identification, instead of the participant's name, will appear on all documents/databases.

Statistical Analysis Plan:

Demographic and baseline clinical data will be summarized using descriptive statistics by treatment group. Similarly, the primary and secondary efficacy variables will be summarized using descriptive statistics by treatment group.

Data from research participants who are not allocated to either arm of the study and who do not receive a supply of either investigational medicinal product will be excluded from statistical analyses.

T tests (or the appropriate alternative for non-parametric data), using two-sided tests, will be used to test for significant differences between the sets of data obtained. The independent samples T test will be used to assess for differences between the effects of the test product (Januvia®) compared to the differences of the comparator product (Diamicron®). Chi square analyses will be used to test for significant differences in categorical variables between the sets of data obtained.

Subgroup analyses will be performed on those research participants who:

complete the visit 6 assessment; have severe psoriasis; have non-severe psoriasis; are male; are female; are obese; and are older than 45 years.

Packaging and Labelling:

All study medication will be labelled and stored in accordance with Annex 13 of the EU guidelines of good manufacturing practice in respect of investigational medicinal products for human use, the SPC and hospital procedures.

The following study assessments will then be performed:

Screening Visit (Visit 1, week -4)

1. Checking against inclusion and exclusion criteria to confirm suitability to participate in the study;
2. Demographic information;
3. Obtaining a detailed medical history (previously diagnosed illnesses etc);
4. Obtaining a detailed medication history for the previous 6 months;
5. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
6. Performing a urine based pregnancy test (women of child bearing potential only);
7. Assessment of PASI; and
8. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

Baseline (Visit 2, Day 0) The potential research participant will return for the baseline visit three to five weeks after the screening visit.

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Completion of quality of life questionnaires by the research participant (Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI); EuroQol five item questionnaire (EQ-5D); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and Stanford HAQ 8-Item Disability Scale (HAQ-8);
2. Recording of adverse events;
3. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
4. Measurement of height, weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
5. Performing a urine based pregnancy test (women of child bearing potential only);
6. Assessment of PASI; and
7. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters.

If the participant is willing, a skin biopsy will be performed, using a sterile technique by an experienced physician, to determine skin immune cell number and skin pro-inflammatory protein level.

1st Treatment visit (Visit 3, Week 4 +/- 7 days)

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Completion of quality of life questionnaires by the research participant as detailed in Baseline visit above;
2. Recording of adverse events;
3. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
4. Assessment of study drug compliance (pill count);
5. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
6. Assessment of PASI; and
7. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

2nd Treatment visit (Visit 4, Week 8 +/- 7 days)

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Completion of quality of life questionnaires by the research participant as detailed in Baseline visit above;
2. Recording of adverse events;
3. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
4. Assessment of study drug compliance (pill count);
5. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
6. Assessment of PASI; and
7. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

3rd Treatment visit (Visit 5, Week 16 +/- 7 days)

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Completion of quality of life questionnaires by the research participant as detailed in Baseline visit above;
2. Recording of adverse events;
3. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
4. Assessment of study drug compliance (pill count);
5. Collection of unused study investigational medicinal product;
6. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
7. Assessment of PASI; and
8. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

If the participant is willing and had a skin biopsy performed during visit 2, a skin biopsy will be performed, using sterile technique by an experienced physician, to determine skin immune cell number and skin pro-inflammatory protein level.

4th Treatment visit (Visit 6, Week 20 +/- 7 days)

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Completion of quality of life questionnaires by the research participant as detailed in Baseline visit above;
2. Recording of adverse events;
3. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
4. Assessment of study drug compliance (pill count);
5. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
6. Assessment of PASI; and
7. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

5th Treatment visit (Visit 7, Week 24 +/- 7 days)

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Completion of quality of life questionnaires by the research participant as detailed in Baseline visit above;
2. Recording of adverse events;
3. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
4. Assessment of study drug compliance (pill count);
5. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
6. Assessment of PASI; and
7. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

End of Treatment visit (Visit 8, Week 32 +/- 7 days)

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Completion of quality of life questionnaires by the research participant as detailed in Baseline visit above;
2. Recording of adverse events;
3. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
4. Assessment of study drug compliance (pill count);
5. Collection of unused study investigational medicinal product;
6. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
7. Assessment of PASI; and
8. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

If the participant is willing and had a skin biopsy performed during visit 2, a skin biopsy will be performed, using sterile technique by an experienced physician, to determine skin immune cell number and skin pro-inflammatory protein level.

End of Study visit (Visit 9, Week 36 +/- 7 days)

The following assessments will be performed:

1. Recording of adverse events;
2. Recording of changes in concomitant medication;
3. Measurement of weight, blood pressure and heart rate;
4. Performing a urine based pregnancy test (women of child bearing potential only); and
5. Blood sampling for laboratory examination as specified in Table 2; Laboratory Parameters above.

Early Withdrawal visit All research participants who withdraw early from the study will be advised to agree to attend an early withdrawal visit.

There will be a separate section in the CRF to be completed if the research participant withdraws early from the study before week 36.

The research participant's involvement in this study will end following the completion of the End of Study Visit (or Early Withdrawal visit if applicable). Once participants have completed their involvement in this study they will be provided with standard treatment by their usual healthcare providers.

Adverse Events:

Comprehensive assessments of any apparent toxicity experienced by the research participant will be performed throughout the course of the study from the time of participant's signature of informed consent.

Adverse events (AEs) considered related to Study Drug at the End of Study Visit (or Early Withdrawal Visit, if applicable) will be followed until the participant is stable or the AE is resolved or the participant is lost to follow-up.

Any medical condition, or clinically significant laboratory abnormality with an onset date before the Baseline Visit and not related to a protocol-associated procedure, is not an AE. It will be considered to be pre-existing.

Complete and appropriate data on all Adverse Events experienced (observed, volunteered or elicited) during the reporting period will be reported on an ongoing basis in the Adverse Event Form pages of the Case Report Form. The investigator will classify the severity of an adverse event. The investigator will systematically assess the relationship of the adverse event to the investigational medicinal product.

Reporting of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) Information about all SAEs will be collected and recorded on the SAE Report Form. Each SAE must be reported by the Investigator, or an authorised designee, to the Sponsor within 24 hours of learning of its occurrence.

Medical and scientific judgement will be exercised in deciding whether expedited reporting is appropriate in other situations, such as important medical events that may not be immediately life-threatening or result in death or hospitalisation, but may jeopardise the research participant or may require intervention to prevent one of the other outcomes listed in the definition above. These will be considered also serious.

Justification of Population and Method of Estimation:

We plan to enrol 40 research participants in total in the two sites. The primary objective of the research project is to determine the change in the psoriasis area and severity index (ΔPASI) during 16 weeks of treatment with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (Januvia®, 100mg daily, or 50mg daily for participants with moderate kidney disease) in psoriasis patients with type 2 diabetes. This will be compared to the ΔPASI in psoriasis patients with type 2 diabetes during 16 weeks of treatment with a comparator (Diamicron® 80mg to 320mg daily).

Mittal et al. have determined previously the effect of twelve weeks of pioglitazone therapy (which lowers glucose levels) on the decrease in PASI in 41 psoriasis patients commencing acitretin therapy18. The decrease in the PASI was 64.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 49.2%-79.3%) in those treated with pioglitazone compared to a decrease of 51.7% (95% CI, 38.7%-64.7%) in those treated with placebo (p=0.04).

Based on these data, and assuming a 33% dropout rate, we have calculated that we will require 40 research participants to detect a greater than 5% difference in the change in PASI with 80% power at the 5% significance level.

Method of Randomisation:

The unit of randomisation will be the individual research participant. After stratification by centre, by psoriasis severity (PASI 7-10, 10.1-13 or \>13) and by obesity status (BMI 18-24.9kg/m2, 25-29.9kg/m2 or \>30kg/m2) 40 research participants will be assigned randomly, in a ratio of 1:1 using blocks of 2, to receive either:

1. Januvia® tablets followed by Januvia® tablets; OR
2. Diamicron® capsules followed by Januvia® tablets.

In order to achieve this we have prepared 9 randomisation lists using a web-based random generator programme. One copy of this document will be used for each centre.

For each participant the investigator, or authorised designee, will chose the appropriate list and will add the participant's identifier to the list in chronological order. This list will be thereby used to determine the study treatment which the participant will receive.

Random allocation will occur at visit 2 (baseline visit) once all screening procedures required at visit 1 (screening visit) have been completed, once it has been confirmed that the participant satisfies all inclusion and exclusion criteria and once the participant completes the four week run-in period.

Identification numbers will be assigned chronologically in consecutive, ascending order.

Independent Ethics Committee (IEC)/Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval:

Before initiating this study the Study Protocol, Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), Patient Information Leaflet and Informed Consent Form, applicable advertising, and any other written information to be given to participants will be reviewed and approved by a properly constituted Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee (IEC/IRB). A signed and dated statement that all documents submitted for review have been approved by the IEC/IRB will be given to the Sponsor or designee before the study can commence at a site. The membership and the constitution of the IEC/IRB who approved the documents will be also supplied to the Sponsor or designee.

Ethical Conduct of the Study:

This study will be carried out in compliance with the Study Protocol and in accordance with the Sponsor/Contract Research Organisations (CROs) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These are designed to ensure adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines, as described in:

* International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Harmonized Tripartite Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice 1996.
* European Union (EU) CT Directive 2001/20/EC.
* GCP Commission Directive 2005/28/EC.
* Declaration of Helsinki, concerning medical research in humans (1964) including all amendments up to and including the 2008 revision.
* National laws. The investigator agrees, when signing the Study Protocol, to adhere to the instructions and procedures described in it and to the principles of GCP to which it conforms.

The regulatory permission to perform the study will be obtained in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. All ethical and regulatory approvals must be available before a patient is exposed to any study-related procedure, including screening tests to determine eligibility.

Insurance:

In case of any damage or injury occurring to a patient in association with the investigational medicinal product or their participation in the study, the sponsor has insurance which covers the liability of the sponsor, the investigator and other persons involved in the study in compliance with the laws of Ireland.

All investigators are qualified and practicing physicians and are thus insured by the clinical indemnity scheme.

Arms:
arm 1: Double blind phase (week 0-16):

Sitagliptin two 50mg tablets (or one 50mg in participants with moderate kidney disease) once daily for 16 weeks.

Placebo Comparator: Gliclazide matched placebo One gliclazide matched placebo capsule daily for 4 weeks. If no severe hypoglycaemic episodes one gliclazide matched placebo capsule twice daily for 4 weeks. If no severe hypoglycaemic episodes two gliclazide matched placebo capsules twice daily for 8 weeks.

Open-label phase (week 16-32):

Sitagliptin two 50mg tablets (or one 50mg in participants with moderate kidney disease) once daily for 16 weeks. arm 2: Double-blind phase (week 0-16):

Gliclazide 80mg once daily for 4 weeks Then if no severe hypoglycaemic episodes increase to Gliclazide 80mg twice daily for 4 weeks.

Then if no severe hypoglycaemic episodes increase to Gliclazide 160mg twice daily for 8 weeks Placebo Comparator: Sitagliptin matched placebo Two tablets (or one tablet in participants with moderate kidney disease) once daily for 16 weeks.

Open-label phase (week 16-32):

Sitagliptin two 50mg tablets (or one 50mg in participants with moderate kidney disease) once daily for 16 weeks.

Interventions: intervention 1: Sitagliptin intervention 2: Gliclazide intervention 3: Sitagliptin matched placebo intervention 4: Gliclazide matched placebo capsule
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Week 0-16: Two 50mg tablets (or one 50mg tablet for participants with moderate kidney disease) once daily for 16 weeks during the double-blind phase.

Week 16-32: Then two 50mg tablets (or one 50mg tablet for participants with moderate kidney disease) once daily for 16 weeks during the open-label phase of the trial. intervention 2: Double-blind phase (week 0-16):

One 80mg capsule once daily for 4 weeks. The if no severe hypoglycaemic episodes one 80mg capsule twice daily for 4 weeks.

Then if no severe hypoglycaemic episodes two 80mg capsules twice daily for 8 weeks. intervention 3: Week 0-16: Two tablets (or one tablet for those with moderate kidney disease) daily for 16 weeks during the double-blind phase. intervention 4: Double-blind phase (week 0-16):

One capsule daily for 4 weeks. Then if no severe hypoglycaemic episodes one capsule twice daily for 4 weeks. Then if no severe hypoglycaemic episodes two capsules twice daily for 8 weeks.

Protocol document: