Expert review of clinical pharmacologyJun 2, 2020

Semaglutide injections for treating adults with type 2 diabetes

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 2, 2026

Abstract

Approximately 10% of the global adult population has type 2 diabetes.

A variety of therapeutic options have emerged for treating type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist used for glucose lowering.
The SUSTAIN phase 3 trial program evaluated semaglutide's effectiveness in controlling blood sugar levels.
Secondary outcomes of the SUSTAIN trials included assessments of weight and blood pressure.
The SUSTAIN 6 trial specifically addressed cardiovascular outcomes associated with subcutaneous semaglutide.
An oral version of semaglutide has recently been approved in the United States.

Simplified

INTRODUCTION: Current estimates suggest that approximately 10% of the global adult population have type 2 diabetes. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the therapeutic options available for its treatment. This article examines the use of injectable semaglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

AREAS COVERED: We will describe the global problem posed by type 2 diabetes followed by consideration of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist class of glucose lowering therapies. The focus is then shifted to semaglutide and a description of the large phase 3 pre-approval trial programme known as SUSTAIN. There is consideration of glucose control, the primary end-point of the phase 3 programme, as well as secondary end-points such as weight and blood pressure. There follows a précis of the cardiovascular outcomes trial for subcutaneous semaglutide (SUSTAIN 6) and the post-approval publications. As well as the SUSTAIN trial programme we used PubMed to identify relevant publications.

EXPERT OPINION: This section discusses the position of semaglutide and the risks and benefits versus other once weekly GLP-1RAs and finally the development of an oral version of semaglutide, which has recently been approved in the United States.

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Semaglutide injections for treating adults with type 2 diabetes

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