Hormonal
A single subcutaneous injection of a biomimetic hydrogel depot containing GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide or liraglutide) sustains therapeutic drug exposure for approximately 42 days in rats, enabling a once-every-4-months dosing regimen in humans that maintains blood glucose and weight management comparable to daily or weekly injections.
This research suggests that a new type of injection using a hydrogel depot could allow people with type 2 diabetes to take their GLP-1 medication (like semaglutide or liraglutide) only once every four months instead of daily or weekly. In animal studies, this single shot kept blood sugar and weight under control just as well as taking the drug every day. While the technology is promising, it is currently only proven in rats, so human dosing and safety are not yet confirmed.
Using a rat model of T2D, we confirm that one injection of hydrogel-based therapy sustains exposure of GLP-1 RA over 42 days, corresponding to a once-every-4-months therapy in humans. Hydrogel therapy maintains management of blood glucose and weight comparable to daily injections of a leading GLP-1 RA drug.
Why this rating
The evidence is from a preclinical animal model (diabetic rats), not human clinical trials, limiting direct applicability to human dosing without translation.
Source
Use of a biomimetic hydrogel depot technology for sustained delivery of GLP-1 receptor agonists reduces burden of diabetes management
Andrea I. d’Aquino et al. · Cell Reports Medicine · 2023
DOI 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101292
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
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- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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