Long-term efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide and the effect of switching from sitagliptin to oral semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 52-week, randomized, open-label extension of the PIONEER 7 trial

INTRODUCTION: The PIONEER 7 trial demonstrated superior glycemic control and weight loss with once-daily oral semaglutide with flexible dose adjustment versus sitagliptin 100 mg in type 2 diabetes. This 52-week extension evaluated long-term oral semaglutide treatment and switching from sitagliptin to oral semaglutide. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A 52-week, open-label extension commenced after the 52-week main phase. Patients on oral semaglutide in the main phase continued treatment (n=184; durability part); those on sitagliptin were rerandomized to continued sitagliptin (n=98) or oral semaglutide (n=100; initiated at 3 mg) (switch part). Oral semaglutide was dose-adjusted (3, 7, or 14 mg) every 8 weeks based on glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) (target <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol)) and tolerability. Secondary endpoints (no primary) included changes in HbA(1c) and body weight. RESULTS: In the durability part, mean (SD) changes in HbA(1c) and body weight from week 0 were –1.5% (0.8) and –1.3% (1.0) and –2.8 kg (3.8) and –3.7 kg (5.2) at weeks 52 and 104, respectively. In the switch part, mean changes in HbA(1c) from week 52 to week 104 were –0.2% for oral semaglutide and 0.1% for sitagliptin (difference –0.3% (95% CI –0.6 to 0.0); p=0.0791 (superiority not confirmed)). More patients achieved HbA(1c) <7.0% with oral semaglutide (52.6%) than sitagliptin (28.6%; p=0.0011) and fewer received rescue medication (9% vs 23.5%). Respective mean changes in body weight were –2.4 kg and –0.9 kg (difference –1.5 kg (95% CI –2.8 to –0.1); p=0.0321). Gastrointestinal adverse events were the most commonly reported with oral semaglutide. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term oral semaglutide with flexible dose adjustment maintained HbA(1c) reductions, with additional body weight reductions, and was well tolerated. Switching from sitagliptin to flexibly dosed oral semaglutide maintained HbA(1c) reductions, helped more patients achieve HbA(1c) targets with less use of additional glucose-lowering medication, and offers the potential for additional reductions in body weight. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02849080.