Glimepiride urethane is a third generation sulfonylurea compound, which increases the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. In addition, glimepiride increases the activity of intracellular insulin receptors. Glimepiride increases osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, which is thought to be related to its ability to activate the PI3K and Akt pathway. Furthermore, Glimepiride enhances intrinsic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activity. Glimepiride also increases protein expression of glucose transports 1 and 4, and is a potent KIR channel blocker.