Future perspectives in diabesity treatment: Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (Review)

Abstract

Given their endemic prevalence in the past decades, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have become a major sanitary burden with an important economic impact. Novel treatment options have been designed with the aim of reducing the numerous complications associated with these metabolic disorders, as well as reducing morbidity and mortality and improving the quality of life of those who suffer from these disorders. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are among the most modern therapeutics that target ‘diabesity’, a term used to describe the pathophysiological link between obesity and T2DM. Their glucose-lowering effects are mainly attributed to glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon inhibition and decreased gastric emptying. Given the effects on the central nervous system, GLP-1 RA usage may lead to body weight reduction. GLP-1 RAs are classified based on their pharmacokinetic properties as short- and long-acting agents, with both types being administered by subcutaneous injection. The latest agent from this drug class approved for use in T2DM is semaglutide, a long-acting compound that is the only GLP-1 RA available as an oral pill. The present narrative review highlights the most recently published data on the effects and safety of semaglutide in diabetic obesity, also emphasizing its cardiovascular benefits and potential side effects. In addition, an overview of the role of semaglutide in the treatment of non-diabetic obesity is provided.

1. Introduction

Obesity is a metabolic disease with increasing prevalence over the past decades, becoming an important economic and health care burden (1). In 2016, the World Health Organization estimated that worldwide more than 650 million adults were obese (2). Obesity is associated with multiple chronic comorbidities, being the leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (3).

The term ‘diabesity’ describes the pathophysiologic link between obesity and T2DM and was first introduced by Sims et al (4) in 1973. In 2019, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that 463 million individuals worldwide have diabetes, projecting that by 2045, there will be >700 million cases (5). The presence of ‘diabesity’ enhances the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, thus increasing morbidity and mortality (6,7). Managing diabesity is challenging, considering that numerous frequently used antidiabetic agents, such as sulfonylureas, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones and insulin, may lead to weight gain and therefore cause a vicious cycle (8).

One of the most modern drug classes available that is able to achieve both glycemic control and weight loss are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). GLP-1 RAs are widely used as a glucose-lowering therapy with weight reduction and cardiovascular benefits in T2DM, having also beneficial effects in non-diabetic obesity as a weight loss adjuvant therapy (9,10). The present narrative review aimed to highlight the effects of semaglutide, the most recently approved GLP-1 RA for T2DM as indicated in the existing literature, and to emphasize the emerging role of semaglutide in managing diabesity and non-diabetic obesity.

2. GLP-1-biological effects and development of GLP-1 RAs

Biological effects

GLP-1 is an incretin hormone secreted in a biphasic pattern by the neuroendocrine L cells in the distal ileum and colon after consumption of nutrients, particularly glucose and other carbohydrates (11,12). It has a short elimination half-life (1-2 min) due to proteolysis by dipeptidyl peptidase IV and renal elimination (12). GLP-1 receptors are expressed in numerous organs, mainly occurring in the pancreas, central nervous system (hypothalamus) and the gastrointestinal tract, but also in the heart and kidneys (12). GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion from the β-pancreatic cells in a glucose-dependent manner, also promoting β-pancreatic cell survival and proliferation (13,14). Furthermore, GLP-1 reduces glucagon secretion by α-pancreatic cells through complex endocrine mechanisms, which include somatostatin stimulation and insulinotropic effects on the β-pancreatic cells (12). By slowing down gastric emptying, GLP-1 further reduces blood glucose and appetite (15). This effect on appetite is not only attributed to the delayed gastric emptying but also to its influence on the hypothalamus as a neurotransmitter, particularly on the lateral hypothalamus, and the paraventricular and arcuate nucleus (16,17). Other effects of endogenous GLP-1 include reduction in systolic blood pressure, increased myocardial contraction, improved endothelial vasodilation, increased glycogen storage, improved lipid profile, diuresis and natriuresis induction (18-21).

Development of GLP-1 RAs

At present, six injectable (subcutaneous) GLP-1 RAs and one oral formulation are available in Europe for T2DM treatment. Based on their pharmacological properties, GLP-1 RAs are classified into short- or long-acting agents. Short-acting GLP-1 RAs include exenatide standard-release (Byetta) and lixisenatide (Lyxumia). Their major mechanism of action is based on slowing gastric emptying and lowering postprandial glucose. Long-acting GLP-1 RAs include exenatide modified-release (Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza), dulaglutide (Trulicity) and semaglutide (Ozempic). Compared to short-acting compounds, long-acting agents have a mechanism of action that mainly comprises stimulating insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon release, thus influencing both postprandial and fasting glucose. The posology of GLP-1 RAs in T2DM is illustrated in Table I (22,23).

Table I.

Posology of GLP-1 RA in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

GLP-1 RA	Structure	Posology
Exenatide standard-release	Exenatide-4 derivative	5 µg twice daily for first month, then increase to 10 µg twice daily, before meals
Lixisenatide	Exenatide-4 derivative	10 µg once daily first two weeks, then increase to 20 µg once daily, before meals
Exenatide modified-release	Exenatide-4 derivative	2 mg once weekly, with or without meals
Liraglutide	Modified human GLP-1	0.6 mg once daily for first week, then increase to 1.2 mg once daily (further increase up to 1.8 mg if poor glucose control), with or without meals
Dulaglutide	Modified human GLP-1	0.75 mg once weekly in monotherapy (1.5 mg once weekly as add-on therapy), with or without meals
Semaglutide	Modified human GLP-1	0.25 mg once weekly for first month, then increase to 0.5 mg once weekly for at least one month (further increase up to 1 mg in case of poor glycemic control), with or without meals
Semaglutide (oral)	Modified human GLP-1	3 mg once daily for one month, then increase to 7 mg once daily for at least one month (further increase up to 14 mg in case of poor glycemic control), before meals

GLP-1 RA, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist.

Liraglutide was the first antidiabetic treatment approved as a weight reduction drug in non-diabetic obesity. Sold under the name of Saxenda, liraglutide at a dose of 3.0 mg once daily was approved by both Food and Drug Administration in 2014 and the European Medicines Agency in 2015 for long-term weight management (24).

3. Semaglutide in diabesity and non-diabetic obesity

Excess weight, particularly when associated with visceral fat, increases the risk of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and T2DM (25,26). The link between excess weight and T2DM supposably lies in the inflammatory state associated with excess adipose tissue. Several pro-inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and complement component 3, along with fatty-acid lipotoxicity inhibit intracellular insulin signaling, which may lead to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and subsequently to T2DM (27). When a new diagnosis of T2DM is made, it is crucial to educate the patient regarding the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which includes avoiding excess calories (particularly high-glycemic-index carbohydrates) and increasing physical activity to prevent cardiovascular and metabolic complications. Nicola et al (28) noted a significantly higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a higher prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in hypertensive diabetic patients.

The American Diabetes Association recommends metformin as the first-line drug for T2DM therapy, if not contraindicated (10). GLP-1 RAs are known to lower blood glucose by stimulating insulin production in the pancreatic β-cells and inhibiting glucagon release by the pancreatic α-cells, combined with slowing gastric emptying and reducing appetite and food consumption (29). Therefore, given their beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and weight loss potential, GLP-1 RAs are currently recommended as a second-line therapy in T2DM. Furthermore, their action of increasing insulin production and lowering glucagon action is tailored in a glucose-dependent manner, thus posing a low risk of hypoglycemia and making them one of the most effective and safe options when a more intensive antidiabetic treatment is required (30).

Semaglutide (Ozempic) is a long-acting GLP-1 RA and its administration is once-weekly subcutaneously at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg, with 0.25 mg/week being the initiation dose for the first 4 weeks. The safety and efficacy of semaglutide was investigated in the Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (SUSTAIN) clinical trial program. A summary of the major results from the SUSTAIN clinical program is provided in Table II.

Table II.

Summary of clinical trials from the SUSTAIN program.

Clinical trial	Aim	Main results
SUSTAIN-1	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide vs. placebo in T2DM patients without prior drug therapy	Semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg significantly reduced HbA1c vs. placebo (-1.45 vs. -1.55 vs. -0.2%); semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg significantly reduced body weight vs. placebo (-3.73 vs. -4.53 vs. -0.98 kg)
SUSTAIN-2	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide vs. sitagliptin in T2DM patients with poor control on metformin, thiazolidinediones or both	Semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg achieved a greater HbA1c reduction vs. sitagliptin 100 mg (-1.3 vs. -1.6 vs. -0.5%); semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg achieved a greater body weight reduction vs. sitagliptin 100 mg (-4.3 vs. -6.1 vs. -1.9 kg)
SUSTAIN-3	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide vs. once-weekly exenatide in T2DM patients on previous oral antidiabetic agents	Semaglutide 1.0 mg achieved a greater HbA1c reduction vs. exenatide once weekly 2.0 mg (-1.5 vs. -0.9%); semaglutide 1.0 mg achieved a greater body weight reduction vs. exenatide once weekly 2.0 mg (-5.6 vs. -1.9 kg)
SUSTAIN-4	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide vs. insulin glargine in T2DM patients with poor control on metformin, with or without sulfonylureas	Semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg achieved a greater HbA1c reduction vs. insulin glargine (-1.21 vs. -1.64 vs. -0.83%); semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg achieved a greater body weight reduction vs insulin glargine (-3.5 vs. -5.2 vs. +1.15 kg)
SUSTAIN-5	To investigate the superiority of semaglutide vs. placebo in T2DM patients on basal insulin, with or without metformin	Semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg achieved a greater HbA1c reduction vs. placebo (-1.4 vs. -1.8 vs. -0.1%); semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg achieved a greater body weight reduction vs. placebo (-3.7 vs. -6.4 vs. -1.4 kg)
SUSTAIN-6	To investigate the cardiovascular safety of semaglutide in T2DM	Semaglutide arm had a lower primary outcome (first occurrence of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke) occurrence vs. placebo (6.6 vs. 8.9%); semaglutide arm had lower rates of new or worsening nephropathy vs. placebo (3.8 vs. 6.1%); semaglutide arm had a higher incidence of retinopathy complications vs. placebo (3.0 vs. 1.8%)
SUSTAIN-7	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide vs. dulaglutide in T2DM patients with poor control on metformin	Semaglutide 0.5 mg achieved a greater HbA1c reduction vs. dulaglutide 0.75 mg (-1.5 vs. -1.1%); semaglutide 1.0 mg achieved a greater HbA1c reduction vs. dulaglutide 1.5 mg (-1.8 vs. -1.4%); semaglutide 0.5 mg achieved a greater weight reduction vs. dulaglutide 0.75 mg (-4.6 vs. -2.3 kg); semaglutide 1.0 mg achieved a greater body weight reduction vs. dulaglutide 1.5 mg (-6.5 vs. -3.0 kg)
SUSTAIN-8	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide vs. canagliflozin in T2DM patients with poor control on metformin	Semaglutide 1.0 mg achieved a greater HbA1c reduction vs. canagliflozin 300 mg (-1.5 vs. -1.0%); semaglutide 1.0 mg achieved a greater body weight reduction vs. canagliflozin 300 mg (-5.3 vs. -4.2 kg)
SUSTAIN-9	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide when added to a SGLT-2 inhibitor in patients with poorly controlled T2DM	Semaglutide markedly reduced HbA1c when added to a SGLT-2 inhibitor vs. placebo (-1.5 vs. -0.1%); semaglutide markedly reduced body weight when added to a SGLT-2 inhibitor vs. placebo (-4.7 vs. -0.9 kg)
SUSTAIN-10	To assess the safety and efficacy of semaglutide vs. liraglutide in T2DM patients on 1-3 oral antidiabetic agents	Semaglutide 1.0 mg had a greater HbA1c reduction vs. liraglutide 1.2 mg (-1.7 vs. -1.0%); semaglutide 1.0 mg had a greater body weight reduction vs. liraglutide 1.2 mg (-5.8 vs. -1.9 kg)

T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; SUSTAIN, Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

Semaglutide as a blood glucose-lowering agent

SUSTAIN-1 was a phase IIIa clinical trial that compared the safety and efficacy of semaglutide (0.5 and 1.0 mg) over the course of 30 weeks vs. placebo in patients with T2DM that had no prior drug therapy, only diet and exercise interventions. Compared to the placebo, both doses of semaglutide produced a significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) [-1.45% with semaglutide 0.5 mg vs. -1.55% with semaglutide 1.0 mg vs. -0.2% with placebo; the estimated treatment difference (ETD) for semaglutide 0.5 mg vs. placebo was -1.43% and the ETD for semaglutide 1.0 mg vs. placebo was -1.53%; P for both doses of semaglutide vs. placebo <0.0001] (31).

The SUSTAIN-2 clinical trial compared semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg with sitagliptin 100 mg over the course of 56 weeks in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with metformin, thiazolidinediones or both. HbA1c reduction was greater with both doses of semaglutide vs. sitagliptin (-1.3% with 0.5 mg semaglutide vs. -1.6% with 1.0 mg semaglutide vs. -0.5% with 100 mg of sitagliptin; ETD -0.77% with semaglutide 0.5 mg and -1.06% with semaglutide 1.0 mg; P for both doses of semaglutide vs. sitagliptin <0.0001 for non-inferiority and superiority) (32). Semaglutide 1.0 mg was compared with once-weekly exenatide in the SUSTAIN-3 clinical trial, which was performed over the course of 56 weeks on 813 adults with T2DM on previous oral antidiabetic agents. A reduction in HbA1c of 1.5% with semaglutide and 0.9% with exenatide was noted (ETD, 0.62%; P<0.0001 for noninferiority and superiority for semaglutide vs. exenatide once-weekly) (33).

SUSTAIN-4 assessed the safety and efficacy of semaglutide compared to insulin glargine in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with metformin (with or without sulfonylureas). At week 30, semaglutide at 0.5 and 1.0 mg achieved greater HbA1c reductions than insulin glargine (1.21 vs. 1.64 vs. 0.83%; ETD, -0.38% with semaglutide 0.5 mg and -0.81% with semaglutide 1.0 mg with ETD; P<0.0001 for ETD for both doses of semaglutide vs. insulin glargine) (34). In the SUSTAIN-5 clinical trial, semaglutide was investigated as an add-on vs. placebo in patients with T2DM on basal insulin, with or without metformin. At week 30, HbA1c exhibited a significant reduction of 1.4 and 1.8% with semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg, respectively, vs. 0.1% with placebo (P for both doses of semaglutide vs. placebo <0.0001) (35). The SUSTAIN-7 clinical trial proved the superiority of 0.5 and 1.0 mg semaglutide in improving the mean HbA1c when compared to dulaglutide 0.75 and 1.5 mg. Semaglutide 0.5 mg reduced the mean HbA1c by 1.5 vs. 1.1% with dulaglutide 0.75 mg. Furthermore, 1.0 mg of semaglutide produced a reduction of 1.8% in HbA1c vs. 1.4% with dulaglutide 1.5 mg (36).

SUSTAIN-8 compared once-weekly semaglutide 1.0 mg with once-daily canagliflozin 300 mg in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with metformin. Semaglutide was superior to canagliflozin in reducing HbA1c (ETD, -0.49%; P<0.0001) (37). In SUSTAIN-9, the efficacy and safety of semaglutide were assessed when added to a sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor in patients with T2DM with poor glycemic control. Semaglutide in addition to a SGLT-2 inhibitor significantly reduced HbA1c (ETD, -1.42%; P<0.0001) compared with placebo. Semaglutide added to a SGLT-2 inhibitor was well tolerated with significant improvements in glycemic control (38).

In SUSTAIN-10, semaglutide (1.0 mg/week) was compared with liraglutide (1.2 mg/day) in subjects with T2DM treated with 1-3 oral antidiabetic drugs. A total of 577 subjects were randomized to receive either semaglutide or liraglutide. Patients receiving semaglutide had a superior reduction in HbA1c (ETD, -0.69%; P<0.0001). Both treatments had similar safety profiles, with semaglutide having a higher frequency of gastrointestinal reactions compared to liraglutide (43.9 vs. 38.3%) (39).

Semaglutide and body weight reduction benefits

In SUSTAIN-1, a marked body weight loss was observed with both doses of semaglutide when compared to placebo. Specifically, with semaglutide at 0.5 and 1.0 mg, a weight reduction of 3.73 and 4.53 kg kg was achieved, respectively, while the placebo had an insignificant loss of 0.98 kg (ETD vs. placebo, -2.75 and -3.56 kg with semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg, respectively; P for both doses of semaglutide vs. placebo <0.0001) (31). In SUSTAIN-2, at week 56, a weight loss of 4.3 kg with semaglutide 0.5 mg and 6.1 kg with semaglutide 1.0 mg, and 1.9 kg with sitagliptin 100 mg was achieved (ETD, -2.35 kg with semaglutide 0.5 mg and -4.20 kg with semaglutide 1.0 mg vs. sitagliptin; P for both doses of semaglutide vs. sitagliptin <0.0001, with superiority of sitagliptin) (32).

The SUSTAIN-3 trial indicated that semaglutide-treated subjects achieved a greater weight reduction when compared to exenatide-treated subjects (-5.6 vs. -1.9 kg; ETD -3.78 kg; P<0.0001) (33). SUSTAIN-4 compared semaglutide vs. insulin glargine. Body weight loss was observed in semaglutide-treated subjects and at week 30, a loss of 3.5 kg with semaglutide 0.5 mg and 5.2 kg with semaglutide 1.0 mg, compared to a weight gain of 1.15 kg with insulin glargine was observed (34). This result came with no surprise given the appetite-reducing effects of GLP-1 and the anabolic effects of insulin. When added to basal insulin, in patients with T2DM with or without metformin treatment, semaglutide produced a significant body weight reduction vs. placebo according to the results of SUSTAIN-5 (-3.7 kg with semaglutide 0.5 mg vs. -6.4 kg with semaglutide 1.0 mg vs. -1.4 kg with placebo; P for both doses of semaglutide vs. placebo <0.0001) (35). In SUSTAIN-7, semaglutide was superior to dulaglutide regarding body weight reduction properties. Semaglutide 0.5 mg achieved a weight reduction of 4.6 vs. 2.3 kg with dulaglutide 0.75 mg. Furthermore, an even greater difference was observed between semaglutide 1.0 mg vs. dulaglutide 1.5 mg (-6.5 vs. -3.0 kg) (36).

Semaglutide was superior to canagliflozin in reducing body weight (ETD, -1.06 kg; P<0.0029) in SUSTAIN-8(37). A sub-study of SUSTAIN-8 compared the effects of semaglutide 1.0 mg and once-daily canagliflozin 300 mg on body composition in individuals with T2DM uncontrolled with metformin. The results indicated no significant differences between semaglutide and canagliflozin regarding changes in body composition (40). In SUSTAIN-9, adding semaglutide to a SGLT-2 inhibitor achieved significant improvements in body weight reduction compared to placebo (ETD, -3.81 kg; P<0.0001) (38). Given the positive outcomes that were obtained when adding semaglutide to canagliflozin, it is indicated that combining a GLP-1 RA and a SGLT-2 inhibitor may provide an additive effect in improving glycemic control and body weight reduction and also in reducing cardiovascular risk and renal impairment.

Patients receiving semaglutide in SUSTAIN-10 had a superior reduction in body weight compared with the liraglutide-treated group (ETD, -3.83 kg; P<0.0001) (39). Semaglutide was studied as a possible chronic weight management drug in non-diabetic obesity. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial performed on 957 individuals without diabetes was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of semaglutide in comparison with liraglutide and placebo in promoting weight loss. Participants received semaglutide at dosages ranging from 0.05 to 0.4 mg or liraglutide 3.0 mg as once-daily subcutaneous injections. The estimated mean loss for the 0.4 mg semaglutide group was -13.8 vs. -2.3% with placebo. Mean body weight reductions with ≥0.2 mg semaglutide vs. liraglutide were significant (-13.8 to -11.2 vs. -7.8%) (41). A double-blinded randomized clinical trial, which included 1,961 adults without T2DM with a body mass index of at least 30 or at least 27 kg/m² with ≥1 weight-related coexisting comorbidity, investigated the role of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide vs. placebo in addition to lifestyle interventions. At week 68, the mean body weight change was highly significant in the semaglutide group vs. the placebo group (-14.9 vs. -2.4%; ETD, -12.4%; P<0.001). A weight reduction of at least 5% was achieved by 86.4% of the subjects in the semaglutide group vs. 31.5% in the placebo group. A 10% weight reduction was achieved by 69.1% of subjects in the semaglutide group vs. 12.0% of subjects in the placebo group. A 15% weight reduction occurred in 50.5% of patients of the semaglutide group vs. 4.9% in the placebo group (42). Given the proven benefits of semaglutide in managing chronic excess weight and its good safety profile, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of semaglutide 2.4 mg/once-weekly as an add-on-therapy to lifestyle modifications in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity (43). Therefore, semaglutide became the second GLP-1 RA besides liraglutide that may be used in managing non-diabetic excess weight. The Food and Drug Administration approval was based on the results from the Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity (STEP) program, which consisted of four phase III clinical trials. A summary of the STEP program is illustrated in Table III (42,44-46).

Table III.

Summary of clinical trials from the STEP program.

Clinical trial	Design	Aim	Main results
STEP-1	68-week randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled	To investigate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 2.4 mg/once-weekly vs. placebo in 1,961 adults with obesity or overweight with comorbidities	Semaglutide 2.4 mg achieved a weight loss of 14.9 vs. 2.4% with placebo; 86.4% of the semaglutide 2.4 mg group achieved a weight loss of ≥5 vs. 31.5% with placebo
STEP-2	68-week randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled	To compare the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 2.4 mg/once-weekly vs. semaglutide 1.0 mg/once-weekly vs. placebo in 1,210 adults with T2DM and obesity or overweight with comorbidities	Semaglutide 2.4 mg achieved a weight loss of 9.6 vs. 7.0% with semaglutide 1.0 mg vs. 3.4% with placebo; 68.8% of semaglutide 2.4 mg group achieved a weight loss of ≥5 vs. 28.5% with placebo
STEP-3	68-week randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled	To investigate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 2.4 mg/once-weekly vs. placebo in combination with intensive behavioral treatment in 611 adults with obesity or overweight with comorbidities	Semaglutide 2.4 mg achieved a weight loss of 16.0 vs. 5.7% with placebo; 86.6% of semaglutide 2.4 mg group achieved a weight loss of ≥5 vs. 47.6% with placebo
STEP-4	68-week randomized, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled	To investigate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 2.4 mg/once-weekly vs. placebo in 902 adults with obesity or overweight	After 20 weeks run-in, 803 adults reached the target dose of semaglutide 2.4 mg and were randomized to continued treatment or placebo for 48 weeks; after 48 weeks, semaglutide 2.4 mg achieved an additional weight loss of 7.9 vs. 6.9% with placebo; after 68 weeks, semaglutide 2.4 mg achieved a total weight loss of 17.4%

T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus; STEP, Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity.

Oral semaglutide: Blood glucose and body weight benefits

Oral semaglutide (Rybelsus), the first oral GLP-1 RA, was studied in 10 phase IIIa clinical trials as part of the PIONEER program. PIONEER-1 was a 26-week randomized, double-blinded clinical trial that compared the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide (3, 7 or 14 mg) as monotherapy with placebo in subjects with T2DM managed by lifestyle interventions. It was demonstrated that oral semaglutide at all doses was superior to the placebo in improving HbA1c (ranging from -0.6 to -1.1%) and in body weight reduction (14 mg dose) (47). Results from PIONEER-2 suggested that oral semaglutide 14 mg was superior in reducing HbA1c compared with empagliflozin 25 mg in a 52-week trial (1.3 vs. 0.9%; ETD -0.4%; P<0.0001). Furthermore, at week 52, oral semaglutide achieved an average weight reduction of 4.7 vs. 3.8 kg with empagliflozin, rendering oral semaglutide significantly more effective (P=0.0114) (48). The PIONEER-4 clinical trial demonstrated that oral semaglutide (14 mg) was non-inferior in decreasing HbA1c to subcutaneous liraglutide (1.8 mg) at week 26 (ETD, -0.1%; P<0.0001) and superior to placebo (ETD, -1.1%; P<0.0001). Furthermore, oral semaglutide achieved a greater weight reduction than liraglutide and placebo (-4.4 vs. -3.1 vs. 0.5 kg; ETD, -1.2 kg vs. liraglutide and -3.8 kg vs. placebo; P=0.0003 and P<0.0001, respectively) (49).

The PIONEER 10 clinical trial investigated the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide vs. dulaglutide in Japanese patients with uncontrolled T2DM. Oral once-daily semaglutide (14 mg) achieved a significant HbA1c reduction vs. once-weekly dulaglutide (0.75 mg) (ETD, -0.3%; P=0.0170). Furthermore, oral semaglutide significantly reduced body weight vs. dulaglutide (ETD, -2.6 kg for oral semaglutide 14 vs. 0.75 mg dulaglutide; P<0.0001) (50).

Cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide

The SUSTAIN-6 clinical trial investigated the cardiovascular safety of once-weekly subcutaneous administration of semaglutide. The primary outcome composite (first occurrence of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke) occurred in 6.6% in the semaglutide group vs. 8.9% in the placebo group (P<0.0001 for noninferiority). Mortality rates from cardiovascular causes were similar among the studied groups, while the semaglutide group had an advantage regarding lower rates of new or worsening nephropathy [3.8 vs. 6.1%, hazard ratio (HR)=0.64, P<0.01] (51). Furthermore, by improving glucose metabolism, GLP-1 RAs are able to prevent the development of macroalbuminuria and also maintain an adequate glomerular filtration rate, and are an efficient and safe option in diabetic nephropathy (52). However, semaglutide-treated subjects had a higher incidence of retinopathy complications vs. placebo (P=0.02) (51). Recently published results demonstrated that semaglutide improved health-related quality of life vs. placebo in patients with T2DM with high cardiovascular risk in the SUSTAIN-6 trial, possibly explained by the reduction of HbA1c and weight loss (53).

PIONEER-6 investigated the cardiovascular outcomes for oral semaglutide in subjects with T2DM and with high cardiovascular risk in an event-driven, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Oral semaglutide was non-inferior to placebo regarding cardiovascular safety, with major cardiovascular events occurring in 3.8% of the oral semaglutide-treated subjects vs. 4.8% in the placebo group (HR=0.79; P<0.001 for non-inferiority) (54). The study did not have the statistical power to demonstrate superiority, as it was an event-driven trial. Death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 0.9% in the oral semaglutide group vs. 1.9% in the placebo group (HR=0.49) and nonfatal myocardial infarction occurred in 2.3% in the oral semaglutide group vs. 1.9% in the placebo group (HR=1.18), while nonfatal stroke occurred in 0.8% in the oral semaglutide group vs. 1.0% in the placebo group (HR=0.74). All-cause mortality was encountered in 1.4% in the oral semaglutide group vs. 2.8% in the placebo group (HR=0.51) (54).

Semaglutide and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

NAFLD is a metabolic liver disease that has a broad spectrum of clinical presentation, ranging from simple steatosis to severe forms such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (55). Similar to that of T2DM and obesity, the incidence of NAFLD is increasing worldwide. It is estimated that up to 70-80% of patients with T2DM and/or obesity present with NAFLD (56,57). T2DM is an important risk factor for the progression of NAFLD to more severe forms (58-60). The exact pathophysiological mechanisms which lead to NAFLD remain to be completely elucidated, but several proposed hypotheses include insulin resistance, environmental factors, polymorphisms, adipose tissue expandability and spleen mechanisms to promote liver fat accumulation (61). Currently, lifestyle changes are the primary tool in managing NAFLD, as to date, no pharmacological treatment has been approved.

GLP-1 RAs may be a potential therapeutic option given their benefits in T2DM and obesity, the two major drivers of NAFLD (62). In a systematic review published in 2020 by Lv et al (63), GLP-1 RAs were determined to improve liver enzymes and hepatic steatosis. A recently published metanalysis by Mantovani et al (64) investigated the published data of placebo-controlled, active-controlled or randomized controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of GLP-1 RAs in treating NAFLD or NASH in adults with or without T2DM. They revealed GLP-1 RAs to be efficient in improving NAFLD, particularly liraglutide and semaglutide. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial compared daily semaglutide (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg) with placebo in patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH. NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis was observed in 40% of cases in the semaglutide 0.1 mg group, in 36% of cases in the semaglutide 0.2 mg group and in 59% in the semaglutide 0.4 mg group, compared with 17% of cases in the placebo group (P<0.001, semaglutide 0.4 mg vs. placebo). However, there was no significant improvement regarding the fibrosis stage between semaglutide 0.4 mg and the placebo (P=0.48) (65).

4. Semaglutide-side effects and cautions

Semaglutide mainly shares the classically observed side effects of other GLP-1 RAs (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

Side effects, cautions and concerns related to GLP-1 RAs. GLP-1 RAs, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists.

Gastrointestinal side effects

The common side effects associated with GLP-1 RAs use are gastrointestinal reactions, mainly nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. During the SUSTAIN program that assessed safety parameters, the rate of discontinuation due to adverse events was low (5-13%), with SUSTAIN-6 reporting a higher discontinuation rate (almost 20%). The major reasons for the discontinuation were gastrointestinal adverse events (31-36). Nausea occurred in 17.0%, diarrhea in 12.2% and vomiting in 6.4% of patients treated with semaglutide 0.5 mg. As for patients treated with semaglutide 1.0 mg, nausea occurred in 19.9%, diarrhea in 13.3% and vomiting in 8.4% of cases (66,67). Semaglutide has a similar gastrointestinal safety profile as other GLP-1 Ras (68,69). A metanalysis from 2018 that included nine phase III randomized controlled trials and 9,773 subjects highlighted that semaglutide did not increase the risk of any adverse events, hypoglycemia or pancreatitis, but had a higher risk of gastrointestinal reactions (mainly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and decreased appetite) when compared to other therapies [relative risk (RR)=1.98; P<0.001] (70). Given that the occurrence of gastrointestinal reactions is the main reason for treatment discontinuation, a titration regimen is recommended for semaglutide, starting with 0.25 mg once-weekly for 4 weeks, increasing the dose to 0.5 mg once-weekly for at least 4 weeks. If a higher dose is required to achieve proper glycemic control, the dose may then be increased to 1.0 mg once-weekly, assuming the tolerance is adequate. For oral semaglutide, the initial dose is 3 mg/day for the first month, then the dose should be increased to 7 mg/day for at least another month (the dose may be increased up to 14 mg/day in the case of poor glycemic control).

Risk of hypoglycemia

The frequency of hypoglycemia was observed to be usually low (1-2%) when semaglutide was not combined with insulin or sulphonylureas (31,32,36,71). However, when added to sulphonylureas or insulin, hypoglycemia had higher frequencies (4-10%) (33-35,71). Shi et al (70) observed no increased risk of hypoglycemia with semaglutide when compared to other therapies (RR=1.07; P=0.317).

Medullary thyroid carcinoma and pancreatitis concerns

Rodent studies have indicated an increased risk of developing medullary thyroid carcinoma following treatment with GLP-1 RAs, but without existing confirmation of these results in humans (72,73). The SUSTAIN program suggested no elevation in calcitonin levels. However, GLP-1 RAs should not be used in individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A and 2B (23,74). Concerns about pancreatitis in incretin-based therapy have been raised due to mild elevations in amylase and/or lipase levels (75). The risk of pancreatitis with semaglutide was not significantly higher when compared with other therapies (0.3 vs. 0.4%, RR=0.82; P=0.641) (70). In 2020, Abd El Aziz et al (76) published a metanalysis based on cardiovascular outcome trials and indicated no significant risk of acute pancreatitis or any malignant disease.

Ocular and renal effects

SUSTAIN-6 noted an increased risk of retinopathy complications (vitreous hemorrhage, blindness or conditions requiring treatment with an intravitreal agent or photocoagulation) in the semaglutide group vs. the placebo group (3.0 vs. 1.8%, HR=1.76, P=0.02) (51). On the contrary, SUSTAIN-1-5 and -7 did not report any similar results. One explanation for these observations may be the HbA1c levels at baseline and the rapidity of reduction of HbA1c, considering that rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with aggravated diabetic retinopathy (77-79). No dose adjustment is required based on age or in patients with mild, moderate or severe renal or hepatic impairment; however, it is not recommended in patients with end-stage kidney disease and experience in severe hepatic disease is limited (66,67).

5. Future considerations

Weight loss induced by GLP-1 RAs is usually observed after long-term treatment. GLP-1 RAs promote weight loss mainly by reducing appetite, thus reducing food consumption and by increasing satiety. Treatment adherence is important, as well as lifestyle changes, which include dietary caloric deficit and increased physical activity. It was observed that a higher dose of GLP-1 RA is associated with a higher chance to obtain a higher weight reduction. However, weight reduction usually lasts as long as the treatment is continued, with near-baseline weight values returning within months of discontinuation of pharmacological treatment as reported by Kelly et al (80).

Semaglutide is the second GLP-1 RA that may be safely and efficiently used in non-diabetic individuals with excess weight, providing a new milestone in the pharmacological treatment of obesity. Furthermore, oral semaglutide, given its posology, may provide higher attractiveness and better treatment adherence, and thus, future research into the use of oral semaglutide in non-diabetic obese patients may provide novel insight and an effective and safe weight-loss method. Combination therapy with semaglutide is also being studied. A randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending dose, phase Ib trial investigated the combination of semaglutide 2.4 mg with cagrilintide, a long-acting amylin analogue. Concomitant treatment with cagrilintide and semaglutide was well tolerated and produced a greater weight loss than semaglutide alone (81). Further studies are required to assess variable combination options with semaglutide to provide novel treatments for long-term weight management.

The cardiovascular safety of semaglutide was assessed in SUSTAIN-6 for once-weekly subcutaneous formulation and in PIONEER-6 for the oral formulation, as discussed previously. A Heart Disease Study of Semaglutide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (SOUL) will bring additional data regarding the cardiovascular outcomes with oral semaglutide vs. placebo (82,83). Semaglutide, as with other agents from the GLP-1 RAs drug class, reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. The American Diabetes Association currently recommends the use of GLP-1 RAs as part of the antidiabetic treatment in patients with T2DM with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or established kidney disease (10). The positive effects of GLP-1 RAs on cardiovascular function may be explained by the beneficial effects of this drug class on glucose metabolism, body weight and blood pressure. The exact mechanisms of how GLP-1 RAs provide cardiovascular benefits remain to be elucidated in future research. Furthermore, long-term studies are required to investigate the potential additive effects on the cardiovascular and renal function of the combination between a GLP-1 RA and an SGLT-2 inhibitor.

Semaglutide achieved promising results in improving NAFLD. Larger randomized clinical trials are required to confirm its applicability in NAFLD. Furthermore, clinicians should focus on preventing the development of NAFLD by promoting a healthy lifestyle, particularly in individuals suffering from T2DM and obesity who are at high risk of developing steatohepatitis.

6. Conclusions

The present review highlighted the benefits of semaglutide not only as an antidiabetic agent but also as a drug with effective weight reduction properties. Clinicians should be aware that semaglutide therapy is one of the most modern methods of treatment for patients with T2DM and obesity, and has recently been approved for the treatment of non-diabetic excess weight. Semaglutide (both subcutaneous and oral formulation) is an efficient and safe therapeutic approach for diabesity, with an excellent cardiovascular profile. Regarding the microvascular complications, potential for reducing diabetic nephropathy was noted, with concerns regarding a possible worsening of diabetic retinopathy, thus requiring further studies for clarification. The perspective of oral semaglutide as an antiobesity drug is promising and may be associated with increased treatment adherence. There is still increased potential for further research to enhance and optimize the use of semaglutide in diabesity and non-diabetic obesity to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these metabolic disorders and to improve quality of life.

Funding Statement

Funding: No funding was received.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Authors' contributions

MCT and RAT contributed to the design and conception of the study. RAT and CN searched and consulted the relevant literature, selected the studies/data and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. MCT, AV and IT substantially added contributions by revising and editing the final manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. Data authentication is not applicable.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Patient consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.