1,5-dideoxy-1,5-[[2-[4-(ethoxycarbonyl)phenoxy]ethyl]imino]-D-glucitol

Emiglitate (BAY O 1248), another deoxynojirimycin analogue is characterized by at least five-fold higher inhibitory potency than acarbose and additionally shows a long-lasting inhibitory effect. In animal studies emiglitate was still active up to 17 h after a single oral administration due to its pharmacokinetic behavior (formation of an active metabolite). Both miglitol and emiglitate differ in their pharmacokinetic behavior from acarbose, which is poorly absorbed (1 – 2 %). The deoxynojirimycin derivatives are structurally related to monosaccharides and will be absorbed in the jejunum.