One of the most popular drugs in recent history may one day become difficult to use. In a new study presented on Saturday, French scientists have revealed a novel hydrogel version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. The slow-release version should allow people to only need a monthly injection of the drug, rather than once a week as currently required, the scientists said.
The study was carried out by scientists at the French-based biotech company Adocia, as part of the company’s main goal of developing new ways to develop existing drugs used for diabetes and obesity. The company has already developed versions of the insulin being tested in large clinical trials. This gel-based formulation of semaglutide aims to address one of the known limitations of the drug – its adherence level.
People taking semaglutide lost an average of 15% of their body weight in clinical trials, a level of success that exceeds the results typically seen with diet and/or exercise alone. So far, it appears to be safe and tolerable as well, although people will often experience side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. But in studies examining real-world use, only about 40 percent of people on the drug stay on it for at least a year. Some of this decrease may be tied to the dosing schedule of semaglutide, which occurs once a week for the injectable versions and once a day for the oral pill version (sold as Rybelsus).
To create “Gelzepmic,” (formally known as AdoGel® Sema) Adocia scientists combined two denatured polymers. The resulting gel is designed to release a limited burst of the drug at first, then gradually release over a period of a month. Like the original formulation, this gel is intended for subcutaneous injection.
In both lab tests and lab mice, the gel-based semaglutide appeared to work as hoped, with the drug being released slowly over time, the researchers found. Importantly, the mice also showed no signs of inflammation, indicating that it was safely tolerated without added toxicity. The team’s findings were presented this weekend at the annual meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
“Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1) drugs have revolutionized type 2 diabetes care, but weekly injections can be burdensome for patients. “One shot per month could make it much easier for people with diabetes or obesity to stick to their drug regimens, improve quality of life and reduce the side effects and complications of diabetes,” said Adocia lead researcher and scientist Claire Mégret, in a statement from Adocia. EASD.
Mégret and his team next plan to test the gel on pigs—animals whose skin and endocrine systems are very similar to humans. If these trials are successful, human trials could begin in the next few years. The company is also working on developing its oral version of semaglutide as well, with preliminary results suggesting it should be more easily absorbed by the body than the only oral pill currently available Rybelsus.
Source link
