Semaglutide:
A recent international, multicentre clinical study has found that semaglutide, a medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events by 14%.
- Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA).
- It mimics GLP-1, a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite.
- It is used to:
- Treat type 2 diabetes by enhancing insulin secretion and lowering blood sugar levels.
- Aid weight loss in overweight or obese individuals, along with proper diet and exercise.
- It is available in two forms: injectable and oral tablets. The SOUL trial specifically tested the oral version, known as Rybelsus (by Novo Nordisk).
- The SOUL trial, launched in 2019, was a phase three, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study designed to assess whether oral semaglutide can lower the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who also suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD) or chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- The primary composite endpoint of the trial was a reduction in cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attacks (myocardial infarction), and non-fatal strokes.
- The results revealed a statistically significant 14% reduction in the risk of such cardiovascular events in patients using oral semaglutide as compared to those receiving a placebo, alongside standard care.
