A study analyzing the PIONEER trial data claims that orally administered semaglutide is extremely effective in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body weight in type 2 diabetes patients.
The study is published within the journal Diabetes Therapy.
Study: Greater Combined Reductions of HbA1c ≥ 1.0% and Body Weight Loss ≥ 5.0% or ≥ 10.0% with Orally Administered Semaglutide Versus Comparators. Image Credit: Dulin / Shutterstock
Background
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are a category of medicines commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. These medicines have proven efficacy in reducing each blood glucose levels and body weight and providing cardiovascular advantages.
Semaglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RAs) used to treat type 2 diabetic patients through once-weekly subcutaneous injection or once-daily oral tablet.
An HbA1c reduction of 1% or more and a body weight reduction of 5% or more are considered vital indicators of successful treatment response in patients with type 2 diabetes. These combined outcomes are related to a lower risk of diabetes-related complications, including cardiometabolic diseases and chronic kidney disease.
The PIONEER (Peptide Innovation for Early Diabetes Treatment) clinical trials were designed to judge the therapeutic efficacy of oral semaglutide in type 2 diabetes patients worldwide. In the present study, scientists have analyzed the information collected from PIONEER 1 – 5 and eight trials to check the therapeutic efficacy of oral semaglutide with other anti-diabetic medicines tested in these trials.
Study design
In PIONEER 1 – 5 and eight clinical trials, a complete of three,506 individuals with type 2 diabetes were randomly chosen and treated with semaglutide, placebo, or other anti-diabetic medicines for 26 – 78 weeks. Anti-diabetic medicines tested in these trials were empagliflozin (a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor), sitagliptin (dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor), and liraglutide (GLP-1RA).
The efficacy of those medicines was assessed across a wide range of background therapies, including food plan and exercise, metformin, oral anti-diabetic medicines, or insulin. An HbA1c reduction of 1% or more and body weight reduction of 5% or 10% or more were assessed at weeks 26, 52, and 78 (end of the treatment) to find out treatment efficacy.
Essential observations
The evaluation of PIONEER trial data revealed that at the tip of treatment, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving oral semaglutide achieved 1% or more reduction of HbA1c in comparison with those treated with other anti-diabetic medicines.
Similarly, patients treated with oral semaglutide were found to be significantly more prone to achieve a 5% or more reduction of body weight in comparison with those treated with sitagliptin or liraglutide. Nonetheless, this therapeutic consequence was comparable amongst patients treated with semaglutide and empagliflozin.
Considering the body weight reduction of 10% or more at the tip of treatment, a significantly higher treatment response was observed in patients treated with semaglutide in comparison with that in patients treated with empagliflozin, sitagliptin, or liraglutide.
Considering the combined achievement of HbA1c (1% or more) and body weight (5% or more) reduction, a significantly higher treatment response was observed in semaglutide-treated patients at weeks 26 and 78, as in comparison with those treated with other tested medicines.
Similarly, patients treated with semaglutide were found to be significantly more prone to achieve each HbA1c (1% or more) and body weight (10% or more) reduction at the tip of treatment (week 78) in comparison with those treated with other tested medicines.
Study significance
The study indicates that oral semaglutide is more practical than empagliflozin, sitagliptin, or liraglutide when it comes to reducing HbA1c along with body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes. HbA1c is a well-established clinical indicator of glycemic control.
As mentioned by the scientists, the measurement of two or more distinct outcomes (composite endpoints) is best than a single consequence measurement (individual endpoints) for assessing the general efficacy of an intervention. Thus, the combined reduction of HbA1c and body weight observed in diabetic patients more pronouncedly highlights the therapeutic efficacy of oral semaglutide.