Emerging Multi-Target Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes: Bridging Drug Innovation and Precision Delivery

Abstract: Diabetes is a long-term metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and is primarily classified into Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Conventional drug delivery systems often face limitations such as low bioavailability, inadequate target specificity, and the need for frequent dosing. Drug targeting offers significant advantages in diabetes treatment by enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects. This is achieved by binding drug-loaded carriers to specific receptors on insulin-sensitive tissues or pancreatic β-cells, ensuring precise action at the disease site and improving patient compliance. Several therapeutic targets have been identified to improve glycemic control and overcome the limitations associated with traditional drug delivery approaches. The present study provides insights into emerging targets for diabetes management, including AMPK (AMP-Activated Protein Kinase), glucose absorption inhibitors, renal glucose reabsorption inhibitors, GLP-1 (Glucagon- Like Peptide-1) agonists, SGLT2 (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2) inhibitors, and PPAR-γ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma) modulators. Increasing attention is also being given to multi-targeted therapy, which simultaneously modulates multiple interconnected physiological pathways involved in diabetes pathogenesis. Such strategies have demonstrated the potential to improve glycemic control, reduce long-term complications, and offer better safety profiles compared to monotherapy. Given the multifactorial nature of diabetes, a combination of precisionbased and multi-targeted approaches holds promise for developing safer, better tolerated, and patient- centered antidiabetic therapies. This review highlights recent advances in identifying novel therapeutic targets and drug delivery strategies, contributing to the evolving paradigms that may shape the future of diabetes care.