An oral GLP-1 agonist: promising results for the HRS-7535 compound

The analysis included nearly two hundred adult patients with type 2 diabetes, whose baseline glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels ranged between 7.5 and 11.0 per cent, and for whom standard treatment with metformin had not achieved the desired metabolic control. Patients were randomly assigned to groups receiving the drug at one of four doses – ranging from 15 to 90 mg administered once daily – or to a placebo arm.

High efficacy of HRS-7535 in reducing hyperglycaemia

The results of the intervention proved to be exceptionally consistent, demonstrating the high efficacy of HRS-7535 in reducing hyperglycaemia. It took less than four months of treatment for a marked and highly statistically significant reduction in hHbA1c levels to be observed in all treatment groups.

The reduction ranged from 1.19 per cent for the lowest dose to 1.64 per cent for the 90 mg dose. The best result, however, was observed in the group of patients taking 60 mg of the preparation – 1.82 per cent (compared with 0.25 per cent in the placebo group). Target glycaemic control below 7.0 per cent was achieved in between 48 per cent and over 60 per cent of patients taking the study drug. This result far outperforms that of the control group, where only 15 per cent of patients achieved the same effect.

Gestational diabetes and metabolic programmingGestational diabetes is primarily associated with temporary disturbances in glucose metabolism in women who are expecting a baby. However, a growing body of research shows that its effects may extend much further – affecting the health of the offspring even before birth and increasing the risk of developing obesity, insulin resistance or diabetes later in life.

From the perspective of comprehensive management of patients with obesity and diabetes, the effect of treatment on body weight is also of great importance. The highest dose of the drug tested (90 mg) resulted in a weight loss of 2.63 per cent (twice that observed in the placebo arm).

The overall incidence of adverse events remained at a similar level in both patients treated with HRS-7535 and in the control group, with classic, mild or at most moderate gastrointestinal complaints being by far the most common. Of particular note is the fact that no incidents of severe hypoglycaemia, episodes of acute pancreatitis or a significant increase in liver transaminase levels were observed.

Read also: “DNA methylation markers as early biomarkers of immunological changes in the development of type 1 diabetes”