Oral semaglutide: the innovation in type 2 diabetes management

Oral semaglutide is the first-in-class glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist available in the form of pills administered per os. PIONEER — the clinical trial program assessing the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide — demonstrated the dose-­dependent efficacy of the drug: the reduction of up to -1,4% in terms of glucose-lowering effects and the decrease of up to 5 kg in terms of weight loss. Moreover, oral semaglutide is superior in this regard compared to empagliflozin 25 mg, liraglutide 1,8 mg and sitagliptin 100 mg according to the dedicated trials of clinical program. From the cardiovascular perspective oral semaglutide has been proven to be safe. Therapeutic concentration of semaglutide in oral form is reached under ­several conditions: taking tablets on a daily basis in a fasting state with up to half a glass of water and waiting 30 minutes before drinking, eating, or taking other drugs. Most frequent adverse events were GLP-1 associated gastrointestinal reactions (­nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), most of the events were transient and occurred generally during dose escalation.