RCT | Once-daily oral Semaglutide 50mg outperforms placebo in obesity treatment

Summary: The referenced study is a phase 3, superiority, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that investigated the effectiveness of oral semaglutide 50mg in treating overweight and obese adults without type 2 diabetes. The trial was conducted in 50 outpatient clinics across Asia, Europe, and North America, with a total of 667 participants randomly allocated to receive either the treatment or a placebo.

The primary outcome measured was the percentage change in bodyweight from baseline to week 68. Results showed a significant reduction in bodyweight among participants receiving semaglutide – a mean change of -15.1% compared to -2.4% for placebo recipients. Additionally, a higher percentage of semaglutide recipients achieved weight reductions of at least 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% compared to placebo recipients.

However, it’s important to note that adverse events were more frequently observed in the semaglutide group. Specifically, 80% of participants receiving oral semaglutide 50 mg experienced gastrointestinal adverse events, mostly mild to moderate, compared to 46% in the placebo group. This highlights the need for careful patient monitoring during treatment.

The findings indicate that oral semaglutide 50mg, when taken once daily, can lead to a clinically meaningful decrease in bodyweight among overweight and obese adults without type 2 diabetes. Despite the higher occurrence of gastrointestinal adverse events, the significant weight loss potential positions oral semaglutide as a promising treatment option. Further research is recommended to establish long-term safety and efficacy.

Article: Oral semaglutide 50 mg taken once per day in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 1): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)