Profile of semaglutide in the management of type 2 diabetes: design, development, and place in therapy

• Published in: Drug design, development and therapy Vol. 13; pp. 731 - 738
• Main Authors: Gomez-Peralta, Fernando, Abreu, Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Antidiabetics; Body weight gain; Care and treatment; clinical practice; Clinical trials; Denmark; Developed countries; Dextrose; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes therapy; Diabetic retinopathy; Drug approval; Drug dosages; France; Gastric emptying; Glucagon; Glucagon-like peptide 1; Glucose; Health aspects; Hemoglobin; Hyperglycemia; Hypoglycemia; Hypoglycemic agents; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Insulin secretion; Metabolism; Morbidity; Mortality; Obesity; Peptides; Pharmaceutical industry; pharmacological treatment; Pharmacology; Public health; Quality of life; Review; safety; Secretion; semaglutide; Spain; Therapy; Type 2 Diabetes; Denmark; France; Spain; United States > US; clinical practice; pharmacological treatment; type 2 diabetes; safety; semaglutide
• ISSN: 1177-8881; 1177-8881
• DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S165372

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Low efficacy, weight gain, and hypoglycemia are the main pitfalls of previous treatments for T2DM. New therapies have been designed with the aim of improving the results in efficacy and quality of life. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) increase glucose-dependent insulin secretion, decrease gastric emptying, and reduce postprandial glucagon secretion. The last GLP-1 RA approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency was semaglutide. This review describes its pharmacology, core clinical data coming from the randomized controlled trials included in the development program, proven cardiovascular benefits, safety issues, and precautions for the use of semaglutide in special populations. Additionally, an overview of the positioning of semaglutide in T2DM therapy and practical issues regarding semaglutide initiation are offered.