Oral semaglutide demonstrated significant reduction in blood sugar vs placebo in PIONEER 1 trial

ORLANDO, Fla., June 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oral semaglutide, an investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist taken as a once-daily tablet, achieved significant reductions in blood sugar versus placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to findings from the PIONEER 1 phase 3a trial. The trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of 3, 7 and 14 mg oral semaglutide compared with placebo as monotherapy over 26 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes.¹ The new data will be presented tomorrow, June 24, 2018 at the American Diabetes Association's 78^th Scientific Sessions (ADA) in Orlando, Fla.

Two distinct approaches to evaluating the effects of oral semaglutide were applied in the PIONEER 1 trial; a primary approach utilizing an intention-to-treat principle required by recent regulatory guidance, evaluating the treatment effect including the effect of any rescue medication and regardless of premature trial product discontinuation; a secondary approach utilizing an on-treatment principle evaluated the treatment effect while on trial product and without use of rescue medication.

Applying the intention-to-treat principle, the trial achieved its primary objective by demonstrating that people treated with any of the three doses of oral semaglutide achieved significant A1C reductions compared to placebo (p<0.001 for all estimated treatment differences [ETD] in A1C for oral semaglutide vs placebo). Furthermore, people treated with 14 mg oral semaglutide achieved significant reductions (p<0.001) in weight vs placebo while weight reductions with 7 mg and 3 mg doses did not reach statistical significance.¹

"Despite advancements in the diabetes treatment landscape, many people with type 2 diabetes still struggle to reach their A1C target," said Vanita Aroda, associate director, diabetes clinical research, Boston, MA, U.S. "Based on the first results of PIONEER, I am optimistic about the potential of having an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist that may help patients achieve their A1C and blood sugar goals."

When applying the on-treatment principle, from a mean baseline A1C of 8.0%, people treated with 3, 7 and 14 mg oral semaglutide achieved A1C reductions of 0.8%, 1.3% and 1.5%, respectively, compared to 0.1% with placebo (p<0.001 vs placebo for ETD of oral semaglutide vs placebo).¹ In addition, 59%, 72% and 80% of people respectively treated with oral semaglutide achieved the ADA treatment target of A1C below 7%, compared to 34% treated with placebo (p<0.001 for odds for achieving the target).¹   

Furthermore, when applying the on-treatment principle, people treated with 3, 7 and 14 mg oral semaglutide experienced a weight loss of 1.7 kg (3.7 lb), 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) and 4.1 kg (9.0 lb), respectively, compared to 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) with placebo (p<0.001 for ETD of oral semaglutide 14 mg vs placebo, p<0.05 for oral semaglutide 7 mg vs placebo, oral semaglutide 3 mg vs placebo was not statistically significant).¹ Moreover, 21%, 29% and 44% of people treated with oral semaglutide achieved a weight reduction of 5% or more compared to 16% with placebo.¹

The most common adverse events (>5%) were mild or moderate nausea, which occurred in 5–16% of people treated with oral semaglutide and diminished over time, compared with 6% in those treated with placebo. Overall, adverse events were reported by 58%, 53% and 57% of people treated with 3, 7 and 14 mg oral semaglutide, respectively, and in 56% of people treated with placebo. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events ranged from 2% to 7% for people treated with oral semaglutide, compared to 2% for people treated with placebo.¹

About oral semaglutide                                            
Oral semaglutide is an analogue of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that is provided in tablet formulation with an absorption enhancer SNAC (sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate).² Oral semaglutide is in phase 3 development for blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

About PIONEER 1 and the PIONEER clinical trial programme
PIONEER 1 was a 26-week, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, four-armed, parallel-group, multicentre, multinational trial comparing the efficacy and safety of three dose levels of once-daily oral semaglutide vs placebo in adults with type 2 diabetes treated with diet and exercise only. PIONEER 1 randomized 703 people in a 1:1:1:1 manner to receive either a dose of oral semaglutide (3, 7 or 14 mg) or placebo once daily. The primary endpoint was change in A1C from baseline at week 26. The proportion of patients achieving A1C of <7% and change in body weight were secondary endpoints. 

The PIONEER phase 3a clinical development programme for oral semaglutide is a global development programme with enrollment of 8,845 adults with type 2 diabetes across 10 clinical trials, which are all expected to complete in 2018.

About Novo Nordisk 
Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company, has been committed to discovering and developing innovative medicines to help people living with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives for 95 years. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious diseases including obesity, hemophilia and growth disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for success is to stay focused, think long term and do business in a financially, socially and environmentally responsible way. With U.S. headquarters in New Jersey and production and research facilities in four states, Novo Nordisk employs nearly 6,000 people throughout the country. For more information, visit novonordisk.us, Facebook and Twitter.

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