A new class of drugs for diabetes does not appear to increase patients' risk for heart attack, according to a study released Monday.
The two large studies which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine also confirmed that the newly-developed drug also showed low instances for stroke or death.
However, one of the trials showed a signal that the drug might increase patients' heart failure hospitalizations.
Heart failure is a complex, chronic condition in which the heart doesn't pump enough blood to the body.
The findings of the research which were presented at the International Cardiology meeting raised some questions about whether or not it is enough that the drugs only lowered blood sugar, without specially addressing cholesterol, blood pressure or lifestyle factors.
Previous small trials suggested a possible benefit from lowering blood sugar.
The study investigated a newer class of drugs known as DPP-4 inhibitors, which are supposed to help bring diabetics' blood sugar into the normal range.
One of the trials known as Savor Timi-53 utilized a total of 16,492 patients who had type II diabetes and those who are at risk for cardiovascular events.
The other study called Examine randomized a study of alogliptin in nearly 5,400 patients within 18 months.
Both studies, although independent from one other found similar outcomes on the main endpoint of heart attack.
