Pioglitazone

Definition

ChEBI: Pioglitazone is a member of the class of thiazolidenediones that is 1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione substituted by a benzyl group at position 5 which in turn is substituted by a 2-(5-ethylpyridin-2-yl)ethoxy group at position 4 of the phenyl ring. It exhibits hypoglycemic activity. It has a role as an insulin-sensitizing drug, an EC 2.7.1.33 (pantothenate kinase) inhibitor, a xenobiotic, an EC 6.2.1.3 (long-chain-fatty-acid--CoA ligase) inhibitor, a ferroptosis inhibitor, a cardioprotective agent, a PPARgamma agonist, an antidepressant, a geroprotector and a hypoglycemic agent. It is a member of thiazolidinediones, an aromatic ether and a member of pyridines.

Clinical Use

Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Metabolism

Pioglitazone undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism by hydroxylation mainly via cytochrome P450 2C8 to form active and inactive metabolites. Three of the six identified metabolites are active (M-II, M-III, and M-IV). Following oral administration of radiolabelled pioglitazone to man, recovered label was mainly in faeces (55%) and a lesser amount in urine (45%).