
Incretins are gut derived hormones, released after the ingestion of food. Incretins are classified into glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP). Both the molecules are inactivated by enzyme Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4). Oral traditional anti-diabetic drugs, often fail to maintain the desired normal level of glucose, especially in the postprandial condition. This has resulted in a strong need for better therapeutics such as incretin based drugs. Incretin not only increases the secretion of insulin by acting on pancreatic beta cells, but also inhibits the release of glucagon by acting on the pancreatic alpha cells. Incretin based drugs namely; Incretin mimetics (GLP-1 agonist) and DPP-4 inhibitors work on the antidiabetic principle of incretin hormone. Incretin based drugs reduce body weight and have better cardiovascular outcomes. The major drivers of global incretin based drugs market are increasing incidence of diabetes, rising old age population, increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases and obesity, sedentary lifestyle and increasing awareness of diabetes. Furthermore, large number of either undiagnosed or pre-diabetic patients across the globe, could further fuel the market growth. However, high cost of treatment, lack of reimbursement, poor accessibility to drugs especially in developing countries, and some safety concerns associated with incretin based drugs, are likely to restrain the market.