Semaglutide, optimal therapy for type 2 diabetes with few side effects: Study
Egypt: Tirzepatide, oral, and subcutaneous (SC) semaglutide have a favorable efficacy for type 2 diabetes treatment, according to results from a meta-analysis. The adverse events were found to be comparable to placebo; however, a high rate of gastrointestinal adverse events was seen in tirzepatide, oral, and SC semaglutide groups.
The study, published in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, showed that semaglutide at 1 mg SC weekly dose and 14 mg oral dose were the favorable doses. Also, semaglutide showed more reduction in fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and body weight versus other anti-diabetic medications.
The study was conducted by Mohamed Sayed Zaazouee, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt, and colleagues with the objective to assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide compared with placebo and other anti-hyperglycaemic agents in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
For this purpose, the researchers searched the online databases for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). To compare different doses, durations, and interventions in T2DM, a network meta-analysis was conducted. The results were presented as mean difference (MD) or relative risk (RR).
Salient findings of the study include:
- Twenty-six included RCTs studied different doses of subcutaneous (SC) and oral semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, sitagliptin, canagliflozin, and empagliflozin compared with placebo.
- Tirzepatide showed the highest efficacy, however, it was comparable to semaglutide. SC semaglutide 1 mg once-weekly showed a higher reduction in HbA1c (MD = −1.72), and fasting blood glucose (MD = −1.93) versus placebo at 30 weeks and other time points.
- Adverse events (ADs) were comparable to placebo with oral and SC semaglutide, oral sitagliptin, SC liraglutide, and oral empagliflozin at most time points.
- SC semaglutide 0.8 mg and tirzepatide 10 mg groups had the highest gastrointestinal adverse events.
Based on the results, the researchers concluded, "semaglutide has a high probability of being the optimal therapy for type 2 diabetes."
Reference:
Zaazouee, Mohamed Sayed, et al. "Semaglutide for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Safety and Efficacy Outcomes." Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome, vol. 16, no. 6, 2022, p. 102511.
