A new report from FDA suggests that use of the diabetes drug saxagliptin hydrochloride (Onglyza—AstraZeneca) was associated with "significant or near-significant" increases in all-cause death, not just heart problems, in a clinical trial. The report was released ahead of an April 14 meeting of outside advisers who will discuss the heart effects of saxagliptin hydrochloride and alogliptin benzoate (Nesina—Takeda). The two drugs are DPP-4 inhibitors, but FDA did not see an increase in deaths associated with alogliptin benzoate. FDA noted that patients taking saxagliptin hydrochloride have a 27% higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure compared with those receiving a placebo. However, the analysis did not indicate the cause of the increased risk of death, and FDA asked its advisers to discuss the study results. Manufacturers of drugs for type 2 diabetes have been required since 2008 to demonstrate that their products do not raise the risk of heart attack or other cardiovascular events.