medwireNews: Semaglutide treatment results in significant reductions in levels of the inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), indicates further analysis of the PIONEER and SUSTAIN trials.
Ofri Mosenzon (Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel) presented the data from the PIONEER 1, 2, and 5 trials plus SUSTAIN 3 – those that had hsCRP values available.
These data revealed that treatment with oral or injectable semaglutide resulted in a significant reduction in average hsCRP levels from baseline and versus most comparator treatments – placebo, exenatide, and empagliflozin.
The effect of semaglutide on hsCRP was partly mediated through its impact on glycated hemoglobin (accounting for 22.6 to 38.9% of the effect) and on bodyweight (5.3 to 50.3%), with the two together explaining 21.4% to 61.6%. However, the analysis also indicated that semaglutide had a direct effect on hsCRP levels.
Addressing delegates at the virtual 57th EASD Annual Meeting, Mosenzon noted that reduction of systemic inflammation may be one pathway through which glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists reduce cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes.
She said that further insights should come from the ongoing SOUL and SELECT trials, which are assessing the cardioprotective ability of oral semaglutide and weekly injectable semaglutide 2.4 mg, respectively.
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