New study: Obesity drug reduces risk of type 2 diabetes by 60%

The new anti-obesity drug semaglutide can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than 50%, two new US studies show.

Semaglutide, a GLP1 peptide receptor agonist currently approved for the treatment of obesity, is given by injection once a week. Its approval was based on clinical trials showing that it reduces body weight by an average of at least 15% when combined with a healthy lifestyle program.

The researchers, led by Dr. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama, will make an announcement at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual conference in Stockholm.

Obesity is known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by at least sixfold. Researchers analyzed data from two new clinical studies (STEP1 and STEP4) involving 1,961 and 803 people, respectively, who were overweight or obese. Participants were divided into groups and for several weeks received either semaglutide (a weekly dose of 2.4 milligrams) or a placebo. Their future risk of diabetes was then assessed.

It was estimated that in the first clinical trial the risk of type 2 diabetes was reduced by 61% in the semaglutide group (versus 13% in the placebo group), while weight loss averaged 17% (versus 3% in the placebo group). In the second clinical study, there was also a significant reduction in the risk of diabetes in those taking semaglutide.

“Semaglutide appears to be the most effective drug to date for the treatment of obesity. It also reduces the future risk of diabetes by more than 60% in obese patients, to levels similar to those of prediabetes or normal blood sugar. Its continued administration is necessary to maintain the benefit,” said Dr. Garvey.

RES-EMP

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