Montefiore Einstein investigators are taking part in a multicenter study to compare the diabetes drugs Actos (pioglitazone HCl) and Amaryl (glimepiride) to determine whether either drug causes a change in the atheroma (fatty plaques) in coronary arteries. Both drugs are FDA approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but considered investigational for heart disease.
The study also compares the rate of cardiac events as well as the safety and efficacy of the 2 drugs over an 18-month time period.