The annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association was held this year from June 23 to 26 in San Diego and attracted more than 15,000 participants from around the world, including clinicians, academicians, allied health professionals, and others interested in diabetes. The conference highlighted the latest advances in diabetes research and improving patient care, with presentations focusing on treatment recommendations and advances in management technology.

In two phase 3 studies, OASIS 1 and PIONEER PLUS, Vanita R. Aroda, M.D., of the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues found that higher doses of orally administrated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA), results in significant weight loss and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reductions.

The OASIS 1 trial evaluated the effect of oral GLP-1 on the treatment of obesity, demonstrating superior body weight reduction compared with placebo (15.1 percent mean weight loss with oral GLP-1 compared with 2.4 percent with placebo; net difference of 12.7 percent). The PIONEER PLUS trial compared doses of oral GLP-1 higher than currently approved (25 and 50 mg daily versus currently approved 14 mg daily), demonstrating significantly superior HbA1c reduction and body weight reduction at both of the higher doses compared with 14 mg in adults with type 2 diabetes. The overall safety of oral GLP-1 at these higher doses was consistent with it’s safety profile, with the most frequent adverse events reported being gastrointestinal in nature (i.e., nausea, vomiting).

"For OASIS 1, these results indicate that oral GLP-1 may provide an effective, future option for people with overweight or obesity who would benefit from a GLP-1 receptor agonist," Aroda said. "For PIONEER PLUS, superior glycemic control and body weight loss with oral GLP-1 compared with the current highest approved dose of 14 mg suggest that higher doses may support individual, tailored treatment goals."