Voglibose
| Evidence Level: L5 | Predicted Indications: 9 |
Table of Contents
Voglibose: Hypotrichosis simplex of the scalp
One-Sentence Summary
Voglibose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor originally used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. The highest-ranked prediction with any supporting data is type 1 diabetes mellitus (the TxGNN model’s top-ranked prediction, hypotrichosis simplex of the scalp, has no evidence behind it). Support is limited: 0 clinical trials and 3 publications, only one of which is a small clinical study.
Quick Overview
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Original Indication | Not recorded in the local data |
| Predicted New Indication | Hypotrichosis simplex of the scalp |
| TxGNN Prediction Score | 0.9986 |
| Evidence Level | L5 (type 1 diabetes mellitus); L5 for the other predictions |
| India Market Status | Listed in a compiled Indian medicine price dataset (at least 20) – CDSCO approval status is not included in this data |
| Number of Listed Products | at least 20 |
| Recommended Decision | Hold (type 1 diabetes mellitus is a research question only) |
Why is This Prediction Reasonable?
Detailed mechanism of action data is not available in the data compiled for this report. Based on known pharmacology, voglibose inhibits alpha-glucosidase enzymes in the intestinal lumen. This delays carbohydrate digestion and absorption and blunts the rise in blood glucose after meals.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ in cause, but both involve post-meal glucose spikes. Delayed carbohydrate absorption could therefore be a useful add-on to insulin in type 1 diabetes. A small 2000 study reported that voglibose taken before the evening meal reduced nocturnal hypoglycaemia in insulin-dependent patients on intensive insulin therapy. This is a narrower, adjunctive use within the same disease area rather than a truly new indication, and the signal is weak.
Most other high-scoring predictions have no plausible mechanism. Examples are the hair disorders (hypotrichosis simplex of the scalp, congenital hypotrichosis milia, diffuse alopecia areata), autoimmune oophoritis, and rare lysosomal or skeletal disorders (Wolman disease, cholesteryl ester storage disease, opsismodysplasia). Voglibose’s listed Gaucher disease link likely explains the lysosomal storage disease predictions, but voglibose does not act on lysosomal acid lipase.
Clinical Trial Evidence
Currently no related clinical trials registered.
Literature Evidence
| PMID | Year | Type | Journal | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10778865 | 2000 | Clinical study (small, 10 patients) | Metabolism | Voglibose 0.3 mg taken before the evening meal for 5 days was assessed for its effect on nocturnal hypoglycaemia in insulin-dependent diabetic patients on intensive insulin therapy; the title reports improvement |
| 39723258 | 2024 | Review | Frontiers in Pharmacology | Reviews the effect of anti-diabetic drugs on dental implant outcomes in type 1 and type 2 diabetes; only indirectly relevant |
| 9778959 | 1998 | Case report | Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi | A 79-year-old woman with slowly progressive insulin-dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto disease; limited relevance |
India Market Information
Voglibose is sold as single-ingredient oral tablets by many manufacturers. The registration records do not include approved indication text. Five of the 20 valid registrations are listed below.
| Authorization Number | Product Name | Dosage Form | Approved Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration No. 182128 | Provog 0.2mg Tablet | Strip of 10 tablets | Not stated in registration records |
| Registration No. 25009 | Aedig 0.2mg Tablet | Strip of 10 tablets | Not stated in registration records |
| Registration No. 182050 | Prevog Fast 0.2mg Tablet MD | Strip of 10 tablets (MD) | Not stated in registration records |
| Registration No. 233839 | Vogo 0.2 Tablet | Strip of 15 tablets | Not stated in registration records |
| Registration No. 32436 | Bosvo 0.3 Tablet | Strip of 10 tablets | Not stated in registration records |
Safety Considerations
- Disease associations flagged as contraindications in the knowledge graph (these are not label text): peripheral nervous system disease, peripheral neuropathy, and impaired renal function.
Please refer to the package insert for full safety information, including warnings and drug interactions.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Decision: Hold
Rationale: The only prediction with any supporting data is type 1 diabetes mellitus (L3), and that rests on one small, older study, an indirect review and a case report. All other predictions, including the top-scoring hypotrichosis simplex of the scalp, have no trials, no literature and no plausible mechanism, so they should not be pursued. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is best treated as a research question about adjunctive use, not a new indication.
To proceed, the following is needed:
- Package insert warnings and contraindications from the India registration documents (a blocking gap for safety screening)
- Mechanism of action data from DrugBank
- A controlled trial or systematic review of voglibose as an add-on to insulin in type 1 diabetes, with nocturnal hypoglycaemia as an outcome
- A safety review of hypoglycaemia risk with insulin, and of use in patients with renal impairment or peripheral neuropathy
Disclaimer
This content is for research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical validation is required before any clinical application.