Safety data from RYBELSUS® clinical trials

Indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Safety and tolerability of RYBELSUS® was evaluated across 10 different clinical trials1-3,a

Rates Of GI Symptoms

The most frequently reported adverse reactions were GI disorders, including nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea

Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea occurred mostly during dose escalation

4% and 8% of patients discontinued RYBELSUS® 7 mg and 14 mg, respectively, due to GI adverse reactions, compared to 1% of patients receiving placebo

GI=gastrointestinal.

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Rates Of Hypoglycemia

Incidence of severe hypoglycemia was ≤1%b

Hypoglycemia was more frequent when RYBELSUS® was used in combination with insulin secretagogues (eg, sulfonylurea) or insulin

- Patients may require a lower dose of the secretagogue or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in this setting

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CVOT

A cardiovascular outcomes trial (CVOT) compared RYBELSUS® added to standard of care vs placebo added to standard of care

Primary endpoint was the time to first occurrence of a 3-part composite outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which included cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke

The total number of primary component MACE endpoints was 137 (61 [3.8%] with RYBELSUS® and 76 [4.8%] with placebo)

Explore the CVOT data »

See Prescribing Information »

CV=cardiovascular.

aIncluding 1 monotherapy trial and 1 trial in combination with insulin.1
b“Severe” hypoglycemia adverse reactions are episodes requiring the assistance of another person.

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Adverse reactions in placebo-controlled trials reported in ≥5% of RYBELSUS®-treated patients1,c

Adverse Reactions RYBELSUS® Vs Placebo Controlled Group

cExcluding hypoglycemia.

In the pool of placebo- and active-controlled trials, the types and frequency of common adverse reactions, excluding hypoglycemia, were similar to those listed in the table above.

From:

A double-blind trial with a primary endpoint of change in A1C at 26 weeks, in 703 patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with diet and exercise1,5

A double-blind trial with a primary endpoint of change in A1C at 26 weeks, in 731 patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on insulin (basal, basal/bolus, or premixed) with or without metformin1,6

PIONEER 4 adverse events vs liraglutide 1.8 mg4

Adverse Events RYBELSUS® Vs Liraglutide

Data are n (%).
dOccurring in more than 5% of participants in any treatment group, categorized by preferred term (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities, version 20.1).

Explore the RYBELSUS® clinical trials

RYBELSUS® went head-to-head with the most prescribed DPP-4i, SGLT-2i, and an injectable GLP-1 RA.1,3

View efficacy data »

Explore The RYBELSUS® Safety Data From Clinical Trials

You may also be interested in:

CVOT »

Specific Populations »

Mechanism of Action »

Getting Updates »

Selected Important Safety Information

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

  • In rodents, semaglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether RYBELSUS® causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined
  • RYBELSUS® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of RYBELSUS® and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g. a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with RYBELSUS®

Indications and Usage

RYBELSUS® (semaglutide) tablets 7 mg or 14 mg is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Limitations of Use

  • RYBELSUS® is not recommended as a first-line therapy for patients who have inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise because of the uncertain relevance of rodent C-cell tumor findings to humans
  • RYBELSUS® has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Consider other antidiabetic therapies in patients with a history of pancreatitis
  • RYBELSUS® is not indicated for use in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis

Important Safety Information

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

  • In rodents, semaglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether RYBELSUS® causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined
  • RYBELSUS® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of RYBELSUS® and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g. a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with RYBELSUS®

Contraindications

  • RYBELSUS® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), and in patients with known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or to any of the components in RYBELSUS®

Warnings & Precautions

  • Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors: Patients should be further evaluated if serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated or thyroid nodules are noted on physical examination or neck imaging
  • Pancreatitis: Has been reported in clinical trials. Observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue RYBELSUS® and initiate appropriate management; if confirmed, do not restart RYBELSUS®
  • Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: In a pooled analysis of glycemic control trials with RYBELSUS®, patients reported diabetic retinopathy related adverse reactions during the trial (4.2% with RYBELSUS® and 3.8% with comparator). In a 2-year trial with semaglutide injection involving patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, more events of diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with semaglutide injection (3.0%) compared to placebo (1.8%). The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy.
    Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy
  • Hypoglycemia: The risk of hypoglycemia is increased when RYBELSUS® is used in combination with insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylureas) or insulin. Patients may require a lower dose of the secretagogue or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in this setting
  • Acute kidney injury: There have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure, which may sometimes require hemodialysis, in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. Some of these events have been reported in patients without known underlying renal disease. A majority of the reported events occurred in patients who had experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration. Monitor renal function when initiating or escalating doses of RYBELSUS® in patients reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions
  • Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema) have been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue use of RYBELSUS®, treat promptly per standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. Use caution in a patient with a history of angioedema or anaphylaxis with another GLP-1 receptor agonist

Adverse Reactions

  • The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with RYBELSUS® are nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting and constipation

Drug Interactions

  • The risk of hypoglycemia may be lowered by a reduction in the dose of concomitantly administered secretagogues or insulin
  • RYBELSUS® delays gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the absorption of other oral medications. Closely follow RYBELSUS® administration instructions when coadministering with other oral medications and consider increased monitoring for medications with a narrow therapeutic index, such as levothyroxine

Use in Specific Populations

  • Pregnancy: Available data with RYBELSUS® are not sufficient to determine a drug-associated risk for major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Based on animal reproduction studies, there may be risks to the fetus from exposure to RYBELSUS®. Use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus
  • Lactation: There are no data on the presence of semaglutide in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Because of the unknown potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant due to the possible accumulation of salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), an absorption enhancer in RYBELSUS®, from breastfeeding and because there are alternative formulations of semaglutide that can be used during lactation, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with RYBELSUS®
  • Discontinue RYBELSUS® in women at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy due to the long washout period for semaglutide
  • Pediatric Use: Safety and efficacy of RYBELSUS® have not been established in pediatric patients (younger than 18 years)

Please click here for Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.

References:

  1. RYBELSUS® [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc; January 2020.
  2. Pieber TR, Bode B, Mertens A, et al. Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide with flexible dose adjustment versus sitagliptin in type 2 diabetes (PIONEER 7): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3a trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2019;7(7):528-539.
  3. IQVIA weekly NPA (TRx count), latest 52 weeks ending 9/18/20.
  4. Pratley R, Amod A, Hoff ST, et al. Oral semaglutide versus subcutaneous liraglutide and placebo in type 2 diabetes (PIONEER 4): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3a trial. Lancet. 2019;394(10192):39-50.
  5. Aroda VR, Rosenstock J, Terauchi Y, et al. PIONEER 1: randomized clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide monotherapy in comparison with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(9):1724-1732.
  6. Zinman B, Aroda VR, Buse JB, et al. Efficacy, safety and tolerability of oral semaglutide versus placebo added to insulin with or without metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes: the PIONEER 8 trial. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(12):2262-2271.

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