Cardiovascular outcomes, safety, and tolerability with oral semaglutide: Insights for managed care

It is important to consider the safety profile of new medications in type 2 diabetes (T2D) when selecting the most appropriate treatment option for each patient. This can help ensure that patients achieve optimal response, that those experiencing adverse events are appropriately managed, and that treatment is tailored for those with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in patients with T2D. The American Diabetes Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology recommend a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) or sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor with proven cardiovascular (CV) benefit in patients with established CVD or those at high risk of CVD. Injectable semaglutide is approved by the FDA for reducing the risk of major CV events in adults with T2D and established CVD. In PIONEER 6, the CV safety of the first GLP-1RA tablet, oral semaglutide, was noninferior to placebo, and a longer-term study (SOUL; NCT03914326) powered to assess a potential CV benefit is ongoing. The safety and tolerability profile of oral semaglutide across the PIONEER clinical trial program was consistent with the GLP-1RA class. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal (GI) (eg, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting), which were typically mild to moderate and transient. In clinical practice, oral semaglutide expands the treatment options available to patients with T2D and can be considered in patient populations suitable for injectable GLP-1RAs.