Efficacy of oral semaglutide: overview of the PIONEER clinical trial program and implications for managed care

The first tablet formulation of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist(GLP-1RA), oral semaglutide, was approved in September 2019 for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This article reviews data from the PIONEER phase 3a clinical trial program, which assessed the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide in more than 9500 patients at different stages on the disease trajectory (mean diabetes duration,3.5-15 years) and on a range of background treatment regimens(monotherapy, added to 1 or 2 oral glucose-lowering agents, or added to insulin). The studies compared oral semaglutide (doses of 3 mg, 7 mg, or14 mg) with placebo, and selected commonly used glucose-lowering agents (empagliflozin 25 mg, sitagliptin 100 mg, or liraglutide 1.8mg). Across the studies, oral semaglutide provided greater glycated hemoglobin (A1C) reductions than placebo, empagliflozin, or sitagliptinat 26 weeks, and similar A1C reductions as liraglutide. The proportion of patients achieving the A1C level recommended by the American Diabetes Association of less than 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) was greater with oral semaglutide (7 mg, 42%-69%; 14 mg, 55%-77%) than placebo (7%-31%)and active comparators (25%-62%), with durable target achievement. Oral semaglutide was associated with similar reductions in body weight as empagliflozin and greater reductions than placebo, sitagliptin, or liraglutide. Oral semaglutide was also efficacious in patients with T2D and moderate renal impairment. These findings indicate that oral semaglutide presents a valuable option for treating patients with T2D in a managed care setting, with the potential to expand the number of patients benefiting from GLP‑1RAs.