Oral Semaglutide Demonstrated Significant Reduction in Blood Sugar vs Placebo in PIONEER 1 Trial

ORLANDO, Florida, June 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Oral semaglutide, an investigational GLP-1 analogue 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, 24 June, 2018 at the American Diabetes Association's 78^th Scientific Sessions (ADA) in Orlando, US.

Two distinct approaches to evaluating the effects of oral semaglutide were applied in the PIONEER 1 trial; a primary approach utilising an intention-to-treat principle required by recent regulatory guidance, evaluating the treatment effect including the effect of rescue medication and regardless of premature trial product discontinuation; a secondary approach utilising 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 HbA_1c reductions compared to placebo (p<0.001 for all estimated treatment differences in HbA_1c 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 HbA_1c target," said Vanita Aroda, MD, associate director, diabetes clinical research, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 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 HbA_1c and blood sugar goals."

When applying the on-treatment principle, from a mean baseline HbA_1c of 8.0%, people treated with 3, 7 and 14 mg oral semaglutide achieved HbA_1c reductions of 0.8%, 1.3% and 1.5%, respectively, compared to 0.1% with placebo.¹ In addition, 59%, 72% and 80% of people, respectively, treated with oral semaglutide achieved the ADA treatment target of HbA_1c below 7% compared to 34% treated with placebo.¹   

Furthermore, when applying the on-treatment principle, people treated with 3, 7 and 14 mg oral semaglutide experienced a weight reduction of 1.7 kg, 2.5 kg and 4.1 kg, respectively, compared to 1.5 kg with placebo.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      

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 SNAC increases the bioavailability of semaglutide, facilitating absorption of semaglutide from the stomach, thereby enabling oral dosing.³ 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 randomised 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 HbA_1c from baseline at week 26. The proportion of patients achieving HbA_1c 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 enrolment 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 is a global healthcare company with 95 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat obesity, haemophilia, growth disorders and other serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 42,700 people in 79 countries and markets its products in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.

References 

1.    Aroda VR, Rosenstock J, Terauchi Y, et al. Effect And Safety Of Oral Semaglutide Monotherapy In Type 2 Diabetes: PIONEER 1 Trial. Abstract 2-LB. Presented at the 78th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, 22-26 June 2018, Orlando, Florida, U.S. 2018.

2.    Lau J, Bloch P, Schäffer L, et al. Discovery of the Once-Weekly Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Analogue Semaglutide. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2015;58:7370-7380.

3.    Davies M, Pieber T, Hartoft-Nielsen M L, et al. Effect of Oral Semaglutide Compared with Placebo and Subcutaneous Semaglutide on Glycaemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. JAMA. 2017;318:1460-1470.

Further information 

Media:

Katrine Sperling, +45-4442-6718, krsp@novonordisk.com  
Åsa Josefsson, +45-3079-7708, aajf@novonordisk.com
Michael Bachner(US), +1-609-664-7308, mzyb@novonordisk.com  

Investors:

Peter Hugreffe Ankersen, +45-3075-9085, phak@novonordisk.com  
Anders Mikkelsen, +45-3079-4461, armk@novonordisk.com  
Christina Kjær, +45-3079-3009, cnje@novonordisk.com