The diabetes drug empagliflozin reduced inflammatory cells linked to heart disease, a pilot study published in the journal Circulation has found. The drug belongs to the SGLT2 inhibitor class, widely used for diabetes and heart failure.The study found that empagliflozin cut circulating monocyte-platelet aggregates, or MPAs, in patients. MPAs are clumps of immune cells and platelets associated with inflammation and cardiovascular risk. Only the group receiving the medication showed reduced MPAs, suggesting the drug's heart-protective benefits go beyond simple weight loss.Researchers also documented a "metabolic reprogramming" of patients' monocytes. The immune cells shifted from a hyper-inflammatory state toward a healthier, more stable state focused on normal cellular energy.The work was led by researchers at Vanderbilt, supported by the US National Institutes of Health. A larger randomized, placebo-controlled trial is now enrolling at Vanderbilt Health with a planned cohort of 74 participants with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The follow-up will also study fat tissue to better understand obesity-linked inflammation.