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ABSTRACT
Introduction: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are highly potent antihyperglycemic drugs that impose low risk of hypoglycemia and also result in body weight reduction. Currently, all approved members of the class require administration by injection.
Areas covered: This manuscript reviews oral semaglutide—an experimental GLP-1 receptor agonist in phase-3 clinical development. Available pharmacological and clinical data of the drug are reviewed, and important end-points described.
Expert opinion: Oral peptide delivery has become possible with the discovery of absorption enhancers. The clinical development program of once-daily oral semaglutide has shown superiority in reducing glycosylated hemoglobin and body weight in comparison with placebo and active comparators (sitagliptin, liraglutide, and empagliflozin). Safety and tolerability of oral semaglutide is in line with injectable members of the class. Delayed gastric emptying, local increase in pH, and enhanced absorption do not seem to affect the exposure of a number of other oral drugs that have been tested (metformin, digoxin, oral contraceptive ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel, lisinopril, warfarin, furosemide and rosuvastatin). Clinical questions for further investigation include the effectiveness and safety of oral semaglutide in cardiovascular indications.
KEYWORDS:
Box 1. Drug summary.
Declaration of interest
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
Reviewer disclosures
Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.