Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerability of Once-Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide in Healthy Chinese Subjects: A Double-Blind, Phase 1, Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION: Once-weekly (OW) subcutaneous (s.c.) semaglutide is an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This trial was designed to assess the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of OW s.c. semaglutide in healthy Chinese subjects. METHODS: In this single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 36 healthy subjects were randomised to OW s.c. semaglutide 0.5 mg (n = 12), 1.0 mg (n = 12), or placebo (n = 12). Treatment (semaglutide or placebo) was blinded for the subjects, investigators and sponsor. The primary endpoint was steady-state semaglutide exposure, defined as the area under the curve over a dosing interval at steady state (AUC(0–168 h,SS)). RESULTS: In total, 34 subjects completed the trial. The steady-state exposure of semaglutide was higher for subjects treated with 1.0 mg semaglutide (AUC(0–168 h,ss): 7961 nmol h/l and C(max,ss): 55.9 nmol/l) compared to 0.5 mg semaglutide (AUC(0–168 h,ss): 4000 nmol h/l and C(max,ss): 28.8 nmol/l). The total exposure of semaglutide increased in a dose-proportional manner in healthy Chinese subjects; the treatment ratio (1.0 mg/0.5 mg) [95% confidence interval] for AUC(0–168 h,SS) was 1.99 [1.78; 2.23]. Treatment with OW s.c. semaglutide was well tolerated in healthy Chinese subjects. As expected for the GLP-1 receptor agonist class, the most common adverse events were gastrointestinal, and no new safety signals were identified. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of OW s.c. semaglutide in healthy Chinese subjects were consistent with previous clinical pharmacology trials of OW s.c. semaglutide in other populations. The results suggest that no dose adjustment is necessary for semaglutide in Chinese patients with T2D. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03288740.