Abstract
Context
Variations in the prevalence and etiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) across race and ethnicity may affect treatment responses. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 analog approved for once-weekly, subcutaneous treatment of T2D.
Objective
To compare semaglutide efficacy and safety in race and ethnicity subgroups across the SUSTAIN trials.
Design
Post hoc analysis of data from phase 3 randomized SUSTAIN 1–5 and 7 (pooled), and SUSTAIN 6 trials.
Participants
3074 subjects (SUSTAIN 1–5 and 7) and 1648 subjects (SUSTAIN 6).
Interventions
Semaglutide 0.5 or 1.0 mg, placebo, or active comparator (sitagliptin 100 mg, exenatide extended release 2.0 mg, insulin glargine 100IU/ml and dulaglutide 0.75 or 1.5 mg).
Main Outcome Measures
Change in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and body weight from baseline to weeks 30, 40 and 104, and other efficacy and safety endpoints.
Results
HbA1c was reduced from baseline by 1.0 to 1.5 percentage points and 1.3 to 2.0 percentage points, and body weight was reduced by 2.3 to 4.7 kg and 3.6 to 6.1 kg with semaglutide 0.5 and 1.0 mg, respectively, across race and ethnicity subgroups. Minor changes in blood pressure and lipid profiles were observed. Adverse events (AEs) were reported in similar proportions of subjects across trials. More Asian versus other race subgroups discontinued treatment prematurely due to AEs. The most commonly reported AEs were gastrointestinal disorders.
Conclusions
In this SUSTAIN trials post hoc analysis, semaglutide was associated with consistent and clinically relevant reductions in HbA1c and body weight in subjects with T2D, with minor variations in efficacy and safety outcomes associated with race or ethnicity.