Semaglutide: The Skinny

Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A recent international study (SOUL trial) demonstrated that oral semaglutide reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 14% in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease (CVD) or chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Semaglutide Mechanism: Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) that mimics a natural hormone to regulate blood sugar and appetite.

Semaglutide Uses: It is used to treat type 2 diabetes and aid weight loss in overweight or obese individuals, alongside diet and exercise.

Forms of Semaglutide: Available in injectable and oral tablet forms (Rybelsus).

SOUL Trial Details: The SOUL trial was a phase three, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study involving 9,650 participants worldwide, including 788 in India.

India’s Diabetes and Obesity Crisis: India has over 100 million people living with diabetes, with nearly 23% of women and 22.1% of men being overweight.

Expert Opinion: Oral semaglutide enhances existing care standards for managing both type 2 diabetes and CVD.

Combination Therapy: Combining oral semaglutide with SGLT2i treatments is safe and can provide a more comprehensive approach to managing type 2 diabetes.

Developed by: Novo Nordisk