Wicked Good Cardiometabolic Chat: Semaglutide’s Expanding Role in Chronic Disease

In Wicked Good Cardiometabolic Chat, a podcast offering from Drug Topics, hosts Jennifer Goldman, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, FCCP, professor of pharmacy practice at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS); and Hailey Choi, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES, associate professor of pharmacy practice at MCPHS, aim to empower pharmacists with evidence-based insights on various cardiometabolic topics. In this episode, Jen and Hailey explore 7 major clinical trials that showcase the expanding benefits of semaglutide across a range of chronic conditions.

Originally developed to manage blood glucose in type 2 diabetes, semaglutide is now being studied in kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, liver disease, peripheral artery disease, and obesity. Data from trials such as FLOW (NCT03819153) and SELECT (NCT03574597) revealed impressive reductions in major kidney and cardiovascular events, while findings from STEP-HFpEF (NCT04788511) highlighted improvements in quality of life and heart failure symptoms. The ESSENCE (NCT06215196) trial data demonstrated liver benefits in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and evidence from the STRIDE (NCT04560998) trial showed improved walking distance and vascular outcomes in people with peripheral artery disease.

Most recently, data from the STEP UP (NCT05646706) trial revealed that higher doses of semaglutide led to even greater weight loss, with a safety profile similar to that of lower doses. These studies reflect a broader shift in how semaglutide is viewed: not just as a glucose-lowering drug but as a potential cornerstone therapy in cardiometabolic care. Across trials, adverse effects were mostly gastrointestinal and generally mild. As evidence continues to grow, semaglutide may play a major role in how we manage chronic disease in the future.

Be sure to tune in every month on Drug Topics for insightful conversations around different cardiometabolic topics that will help improve your practice and patient care. All episodes of Wicked Good Cardiometabolic Chat will be available in video via DrugTopics.com, with an audio version available through Spotify.

Interested in hearing a specific topic discussed? Send an email with your suggestion to kmeara@mjhlifesciences.com.

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