Semaglutide 1.0 mg weekly bests Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily for post bariatric surgery weight recurrence

USA: Semaglutide has been shown to be more effective than liraglutide in treating post-metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) weight recurrence, according to a new study published in the Obesity Journal.

One of the most successful therapies for obesity and obesity-related comorbidities is metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Weight recurrence following MBS is common, and previous research has shown that the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) is more effective.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of semaglutide versus liraglutide in addressing weight recurrence after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS).

The study conducted a retrospective analysis of 207 adults with post-MBS weight recurrence treated with either semaglutide 1.0 mg weekly or liraglutide 3.0 mg daily at an academic center from January 2015 through April 2021. The mean age of the participants was 55.2 years, and the mean BMI was 40.4 kg/m2.

The primary endpoint of the study was the percentage of body weight change at 12 months of treatment with regimens containing semaglutide or liraglutide.

The study revealed the following clinical takeaways:

1. The semaglutide group had a higher mean weight change of -12.92% compared to -8.77% in the liraglutide group after 12 months.

2. The semaglutide group had adjusted odds ratios of 2.34 for ≥10% weight loss and 2.55 for ≥15% weight loss compared to the liraglutide group.

3. The weight loss efficacy of semaglutide did not differ by subgroups explored, including age, sex, and MBS procedure.

The study results suggest that semaglutide could be a more effective treatment option for patients with post-MBS weight recurrence.

Dr. Natia Murvelashvili, lead author of the study said that “This study provides evidence that semaglutide 1.0 mg weekly is more effective than liraglutide 3.0 mg daily in treating post-MBS weight recurrence. These findings could have significant implications for patients who have experienced weight regain after MBS and may guide treatment decisions for clinicians.”

Reference:

Murvelashvili N., Xie L., Schellinger j., Mathew MS., et al.; Effectiveness of semaglutide versus liraglutide for treating post-metabolic and bariatric surgery weight recurrence; Obesity; 2023; doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23736