A new experimental GLP-1 pill could make it easier for people with type 2 diabetes to receive treatment to help control blood sugar levels and support weight loss.
At the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, Mass General Brigham researcher Vanita Aroda, MD, presented results from SOLSTICE, a phase 2b randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating the oral GLP-1 receptor agonist elecoglyprone. The survey results were announced at the same time lancet.
The study found that elecoglyprone significantly lowered blood sugar levels and led to weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes. Researchers say the results highlight the growing potential of oral GLP-1 drugs to address some of the limitations associated with current treatment options.
Oral GLP-1 therapy is promising
“Our findings highlight the expanding potential of oral GLP-1 receptor agonists for patients with type 2 diabetes,” said Aroda, director of diabetes clinical research in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension at Brigham General Hospital in Massachusetts.
“To date, GLP-1 therapy has been primarily limited to injectable or oral peptide formulations, each with unique delivery and dosing limitations. Rigorous clinical trials like SOLSTICE will help us evaluate oral medications that overcome these limitations while potentially being equally effective in diabetic patients.”
Elecoglypron was developed specifically for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Most currently available GLP-1 drugs are administered by subcutaneous injection. Semaglutide is available as an oral option for people with type 2 diabetes, but it must be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and then food and water should be avoided for 30 minutes. Another oral non-peptide GLP-1 drug, orforglipron, is approved in the United States for weight management.
SOLSTICE trial results
The SOLSTICE trial, sponsored by AstraZeneca, enrolled 406 adults with type 2 diabetes in nine countries, including the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to different treatment groups, allowing researchers to evaluate starting doses, dose escalation approaches, and maintenance dose ranges.
After 26 weeks of treatment, elecoglypron lowered blood glucose levels significantly more than placebo at all doses tested.
Up to 89.6% of participants who took the medication achieved an HbA1c level of 7%, which is the standard goal for average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months for most adults with diabetes. By comparison, 24.9% of participants in the placebo group met that goal.
This drug also resulted in significant weight loss. Up to 72.3% of those taking elecoglypron achieved at least 5% weight loss, compared to 20.2% of those taking a placebo.
The researchers reported that the drug’s safety and tolerability profile is broadly consistent with other GLP-1 therapies at this stage of development.
Additional diabetes research published
Dr. Aroda is also the principal investigator of REIMAGINE 1, a randomized controlled trial evaluating Kaglisema, a combination therapy that combines the amylin receptor agonist Kagrilintide with injectable Semaglutide.
The research results were presented at the ADA conference, Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. The trial showed positive results, with up to 87% of participants reaching their target HbA1c level of 7%.
“At the heart of all of our clinical trials is the goal of improving patient outcomes,” Aroda said. “The research presented at this year’s conference highlights how carefully designed trials are essential to evaluating new treatments, improving existing approaches, and ensuring that scientific advances translate into safer and more effective care for people with diabetes.”
Authors, disclosures, and funding
In addition to Aroda, study authors include Melanie J Davies, Jill Maaske, Marcus Millegård, Víctor López Juan, Jens Aberle, Andreea Ciudin, Rory J McCrimmon, Olof Eklund, Judy L Shih, Mikaela Sjostrond, Donna Zarzuela and Julio Rosenstock.
Aroda reports institutional agreements from Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Biomea, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corcept, Eli Lilly, Fractyl, Kailera, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Recordati, Rhythm and Servier, and consulting fees from Baim Institute for Clinical Research, Mediflix, Sanofi, and Roche. Additional author disclosure information is available at: lancet.
The study was funded by AstraZeneca.
