Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide monotherapy vs placebo in a predominantly Chinese population with type 2 diabetes (PIONEER 11): a double‑blind, Phase IIIa, randomised trial – published online 10/07/2024

Weiqing Wang, Stephen C. Bain, Fang Bian, Rui Chen, Sanaz Gabery, Shan Huang, Thomas B. Jensen, Bifen Luo, Guoyue Yuan, Guang Ning, for the PIONEER 11 investigators

The prevalence of diabetes in China is estimated to increase over the coming decades, highlighting a clear treatment need. However, differences in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology exist between East Asian and Western populations, which could impact treatment responses. Oral semaglutide is the first orally available glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, with demonstrated efficacy in global trials. In this issue, Wang et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-024-06142-3) show that oral semaglutide led to significant reductions in HbA_1c and body weight vs placebo in a predominantly Chinese population with type 2 diabetes insufficiently controlled by diet and exercise alone. Oral semaglutide was well tolerated. This issue also includes the PIONEER 12 trial, which demonstrated significant reductions in HbA_1c and body weight with oral semaglutide vs sitagliptin in a predominantly Chinese population with type 2 diabetes. The authors conclude that given the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes in China, these findings provide important evidence on oral semaglutide in Chinese individuals.