Semaglutide research and evidence overview

The semaglutide evidence base includes large randomized trial programs in type 2 diabetes and obesity, alongside cardiovascular outcome studies and exploratory work in related metabolic domains.

Early semaglutide work in type 2 diabetes evaluated:

• HbA1c reduction vs placebo and active comparators.
• Weight change as a secondary outcome.
• Safety and tolerability over multi-year follow-up.

These trials helped define positioning relative to other GLP-1 receptor agonists and to non-GLP-1 therapies.

Subsequent programs focused on individuals with obesity or overweight plus comorbidities, often using higher doses and longer treatment durations. Outcomes typically emphasized:

• Percent weight change from baseline.
• Proportion of participants achieving threshold weight-loss targets.
• Changes in cardiometabolic risk markers.

Cardiovascular outcome trials have examined whether semaglutide influences major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) composites and related endpoints in defined high-risk populations.

Results in this area inform guideline recommendations and labelling for specific patient groups.

Ongoing and planned studies explore semaglutide in additional contexts, such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic kidney disease, and neuro-metabolic or inflammatory indications. Many of these remain investigational.

When reviewing semaglutide studies, helpful questions include:

• Which population was studied and how closely does it match the one of interest?
• What were the primary and secondary endpoints?
• How long was follow-up?
• How does semaglutide compare with other GLP-1 receptor agonists or classes?

For curated references, see the Research hub and links from the main semaglutide page.