Limited · humanPreprint
This retrospective, propensity-score matched observational study used de-identified federated U.S. electronic health record (EHR) data to examine real-world associations of semaglutide (n=1,424) and tirzepatide (n=578) use in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to 1:1 matched T1D controls (n=2,002) who did not receive these agents, over a study period from 2018–2025. Neither drug is approved for T1D. The study found that both agents were associated with statistically significant reductions in total daily insulin dose, HbA1c, and body weight at 12 and 24 months compared to controls. Greater insulin reductions were observed in semaglutide users who achieved higher weight loss or dose escalation. The pre-vs-post safety analysis identified predominantly gastrointestinal adverse events; DKA, severe hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, and retinopathy did not increase significantly overall, though patients with >30% insulin dose reduction had higher DKA rates. Semaglutide and tirzepatide exposure was associated with lower all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events versus matched controls. Key limitations include the observational design, EHR data quality constraints, off-label prescribing confounding, and preprint status, meaning findings have not yet undergone peer review.
Unknown journal · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Review
This systematic review examined existing evidence on the use of second-generation incretin analogs — specifically semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist) and tirzepatide (a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist) — in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Researchers screened 3,053 records from six major databases and ClinicalTrials.gov, ultimately identifying 11 eligible publications. These comprised two systematic reviews, one post hoc subgroup analysis, six narrative or consensus reviews, and two LADA case reports. Three key themes emerged from the synthesis: (1) LADA is frequently misdiagnosed or diagnosis is delayed due to its heterogeneous presentation; (2) both tirzepatide and semaglutide show potential benefits in LADA and in certain T1D subtypes, particularly in individuals retaining residual beta-cell function; and (3) existing clinical management frameworks may guide practice while robust trial data are awaited. The authors concluded that current evidence is promising but moderate in quality, and that well-designed, adequately powered randomized controlled trials in clearly defined LADA and T1D populations are needed to establish long-term efficacy and safety. Notable limitations include the small number of eligible studies, the predominance of review-level and narrative publications, and only two primary patient-level reports.
Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners · Jun 2026DOI ↗ 🧪 TrialInsufficient
Registered N/A interventional trial (recruiting). Obese patients exhibit considerable heterogeneity and complex comorbidities, making long-term effective management challenging with monotherapy. While bariatric surgery remains the most effective weight-loss intervention, postoperative weight regain and metabolic deterioration remain significant concerns. glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) offer distinct advantages for weight loss and metabolic control, and their combination with surgery may produce synergistic effects. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of bariatr
ClinicalTrials.gov · Jun 2026View trial ↗ Strong · human
The REIMAGINE 2 trial was a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, placebo- and active-controlled study evaluating the fixed-dose combination of cagrilintide (an amylin receptor agonist) and semaglutide (a GLP-1 receptor agonist), known as CagriSema, in 2,713 adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity across 30 countries. Participants were on background metformin with or without an SGLT2 inhibitor and were followed for 68 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c from baseline. The study found that the higher-dose CagriSema combination produced a statistically significantly greater reduction in HbA1c compared with semaglutide alone (-1.91 vs. -1.75 percentage points; treatment difference -0.16 percentage points; p=0.0035). Adverse events were more frequent in the combination group (86.9%) than in the semaglutide monotherapy group (81.2%), with gastrointestinal disorders being the most common across active treatment arms. Limitations include the relatively modest absolute difference in HbA1c reduction, a predominantly White study population, and industry funding by Novo Nordisk, which may introduce sponsorship bias.
The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Moderate · human
REIMAGINE 1 was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3a trial evaluating once-weekly subcutaneous cagrilintide-semaglutide (CagriSema) — a combination of an amylin receptor agonist (cagrilintide) and a GLP-1 receptor agonist (semaglutide) — in 189 adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by diet and exercise alone. Conducted across 42 sites in six countries over 40 weeks, participants were assigned to one of two active dose levels or matched placebo. The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c from baseline to week 40. The study found that both active dose levels produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in HbA1c compared to placebo (estimated treatment differences of −1.7 and −1.4 percentage points for the higher and lower doses, respectively; p<0.0001 for both). Body weight reduction was a notable secondary finding. The safety profile was described as consistent with the GLP-1 receptor agonist class. Key limitations include the relatively small sample size (n=189), short 40-week duration, an early-stage diabetes population not on background glucose-lowering medications, and industry funding from Novo Nordisk, which may introduce bias. These results suggest CagriSema may be a promising therapeutic option for early-stage type 2 diabetes.
The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Strong · human
The REIMAGINE 3 trial investigated the combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide (CagriSema) as a weekly add-on to daily basal insulin in adults with type 2 diabetes and suboptimal glycaemic control (HbA1c 7.0–10.5%). In this 40-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study conducted across 46 centres in six countries, 274 participants were randomised to one of two active dose combinations (2.4 mg each or 1.0 mg each) or pooled placebo. The primary endpoint—change in HbA1c from baseline to week 40—was significantly greater with both CagriSema doses (–2.33% and –2.10%, respectively) compared with placebo (–0.66%). Both active groups also achieved substantial bodyweight reductions versus placebo, and no additional hypoglycaemia risk was observed. The safety profile was consistent with the GLP-1 receptor agonist class. Limitations include a relatively short 40-week duration, a moderately sized sample, and industry funding by Novo Nordisk. The study authors conclude that CagriSema meaningfully improved glycaemic control when added to basal insulin, without increasing hypoglycaemia risk.
Lancet (London, England) · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Animal only
This mouse study investigated the molecular mechanisms by which tirzepatide (TZP), a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, affects the liver in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Male C57BL/6J mice (n=32) were fed a high-fat, high-fructose (HFHFr) diet to induce MASLD and then randomized to receive no treatment, semaglutide (Sema), or TZP. Researchers combined RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to generate hepatic transcriptomic and proteomic profiles, with key targets validated by PCR and immunoblotting. The study found that HFHFr feeding produced hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, elevated liver enzymes, and hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Both TZP and Sema were associated with improvements in these parameters; TZP was associated with reductions in pro-inflammatory markers (MCP-1, IL-1β, TNF-α, GSDMD) and partial restoration of IL-10. Integrated omics analysis implicated the CCL2/CCR2 chemokine axis and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway as key molecular signatures associated with TZP's hepatic effects. Key limitations include the exclusive use of an animal model, a small sample size, and the mechanistic (non-causal) nature of omics associations.
BMC gastroenterology · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Review
This narrative review examines the continued clinical relevance of dulaglutide, a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) amid growing adoption of newer incretin-based therapies such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. The authors synthesize evidence from major cardiovascular outcome trials, including the REWIND trial—which they highlight as the only GLP-1 receptor agonist trial to demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in a predominantly primary prevention population over more than five years—and the SURPASS-CVOT, which established tirzepatide's non-inferiority to dulaglutide for cardiovascular outcomes. The review acknowledges that semaglutide and tirzepatide show superior HbA1c reduction and weight loss compared to dulaglutide, but argues that dulaglutide's fixed-dose, no-titration regimen, established cardiovascular safety profile, real-world tolerability, and lower cost support its continued use—particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Limitations include the narrative (non-systematic) review design, which is susceptible to selection bias, and the lack of head-to-head cardiovascular outcome trials directly comparing dulaglutide to semaglutide or tirzepatide.
Diabetology international · Jun 2026DOI ↗ InsufficientPreprint
This paper presents a theoretical hypothesis arguing that current GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist therapies (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide) produce weight loss plateaus because they only address one side of what the authors term the "mass balance equation" — net mass inflow (NMI) — while net mass outflow (NMO) passively and actively declines over time. The authors propose a "mass balance model" (MBM) as an alternative explanatory framework to the conventional energy balance model, framing the plateau as a predictable physical consequence rather than a vague compensatory metabolic adaptation. Based on this framework, the authors hypothesize that combining an NMI-reducing agent with an NMO-stabilizing or NMO-enhancing agent could produce greater, more durable weight loss and improved body composition. Candidate NMO-targeting agents discussed include SGLT2 inhibitors, activin/myostatin pathway inhibitors, and mitochondrial uncouplers. The paper is entirely theoretical; no original experimental data, clinical trials, or systematic evidence synthesis are presented. Its primary limitation is that the MBM framework and the dual-action hypothesis remain untested in human or animal studies.
Unknown journal · Jun 2026DOI ↗ 🧪 TrialInsufficient
Registered observational trial (active not recruiting). Investigators are building an empirical evidence base for real world data through large-scale emulation of randomized controlled trials. The investigators' goal is to understand for what types of clinical questions real world data analyses can be conducted with confidence and how to implement such studies.
ClinicalTrials.gov · Jun 2026View trial ↗ 🧪 TrialInsufficient
Registered observational trial (active not recruiting). Investigators are building an empirical evidence base for real world data through large-scale emulation of randomized controlled trials. The investigators' goal is to understand for what types of clinical questions real world data analyses can be conducted with confidence and how to implement such studies.
ClinicalTrials.gov · Jun 2026View trial ↗ Limited · human
This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX Global Research Network to examine whether GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use was associated with a reduced risk of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosed between 2010 and 2024. Patients exposed to GLP-1 RAs (either any agent or newer agents—semaglutide or tirzepatide) were propensity score matched to unexposed controls, balancing for age, sex, race, musculoskeletal diagnoses, obesity-related conditions, BMI, and healthcare access proxies. Matched cohort sizes ranged from approximately 13,000 to 42,000 patients depending on the exposure class and treatment duration analyzed (1 or 3 years). The primary outcome was cumulative TKA incidence at 1, 3, 5, and 8 years, estimated via Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. The study found that GLP-1 RA use was associated with significantly lower TKA incidence across all subgroups, with larger reductions observed with longer treatment durations and with newer-generation agents. The authors suggest the findings are consistent with possible disease-modifying activity beyond weight loss, but acknowledge that as a retrospective observational design, causality cannot be established, and prospective randomized trials are needed.
Regional anesthesia and pain medicine · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Limited · human
Two single-dose pharmacokinetic studies investigated whether renal or hepatic impairment affects how the body processes cagrilintide, a long-acting amylin agonist in development for weight management and type 2 diabetes (also studied in combination with semaglutide as "CagriSema"). In each study, adult participants were grouped by organ function (normal, mild, moderate, or severe impairment) and received a single subcutaneous dose of cagrilintide. The renal study enrolled 33 participants and the hepatic study enrolled 32. The primary measure was total drug exposure (AUC₀–∞), with secondary measures including peak concentration (Cmax) and time to peak (tmax). Both studies found that cagrilintide exposure was broadly similar across all impairment levels; estimated AUC ratios relative to normal function ranged from approximately 0.99 to 1.23, with overlapping confidence intervals. No serious adverse events, study withdrawals, or deaths occurred, and no increase in adverse events was observed with worsening organ impairment. The authors concluded that dose adjustment may not be necessary in these populations. Key limitations include small group sizes, single-dose design, and the inability to generalize to steady-state conditions or combined therapies.
Clinical pharmacokinetics · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Moderate · humanPreprint
This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examined the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide) and the dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity, as measured by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The authors searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciSpace through May 2026 and included 40 studies involving adults with OSA receiving GLP-1–based therapies with quantitative AHI outcomes. The review found that tirzepatide was associated with greater AHI reductions (−25.3 to −29.3 events/h; approximately 50.7%–58.7%) compared with liraglutide (−12.2 events/h; ~25%), and a pooled meta-analytic estimate showed an overall AHI reduction of −16.57 events/h across therapies. The authors attributed these effects primarily to weight loss, while noting emerging evidence for potential weight-independent mechanisms. Limitations include the heterogeneity of included studies, reliance on a preprint-stage document, and the inability to fully disentangle weight-mediated versus direct effects. The authors conclude that GLP-1–based therapies, particularly tirzepatide, may represent meaningful treatment options for obesity-related OSA, especially among patients with poor CPAP adherence.
Unknown journal · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Review
This commentary examines the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) report on GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — specifically semaglutide and tirzepatide — for obesity management, evaluating both their clinical value and the challenges surrounding their financing. The authors note that while these agents demonstrate meaningful weight loss and cardiometabolic benefits and were deemed cost-effective versus lifestyle modification alone by ICER, even modest real-world uptake surpasses ICER's annual budget impact threshold, raising access concerns. The commentary highlights that real-world persistence with these medications is notably lower than in clinical trials, leading to frequent weight regain upon discontinuation and limiting anticipated long-term medical cost offsets. Evidence on medical spending is described as mixed: cost-offset signals appear primarily in patients with both obesity and diabetes using high-potency injectable agents, while obesity-only populations may see spending increases. To address these tensions, the authors recommend pairing drug coverage with lifestyle management programs, avoiding arbitrary treatment duration limits, applying targeted prior authorization, and exploring innovative payment models. Key limitations include the commentary format, reliance on heterogeneous real-world data, and lack of primary data collection.
Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Insufficient
This scoping review, conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, examines whether GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — including semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, and retatrutide — may interfere with autologous fat grafting outcomes. The authors note that millions of patients using GLP-1 RAs for weight loss now present to aesthetic surgeons with facial volume loss and soft tissue deflation, conditions commonly treated with fat grafting. The review synthesizes preclinical and clinical evidence on how GLP-1 RA medications affect adipocyte biology, adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) function, and tissue revascularization. The authors identify several theoretical interference points: GLP-1-mediated adipocyte "browning" and thermogenic activation (including UCP1 upregulation), enhanced lipolysis via ATGL and HSL pathways, suppression of white adipogenic differentiation in ASCs favoring beige/thermogenic lineages, and altered angiogenic and inflammatory signaling during the revascularization window critical to graft survival. The authors explicitly acknowledge that no clinical or preclinical studies have directly examined fat graft outcomes in patients receiving these therapies. The review's conclusions are framed as hypothesis-generating, and any clinical considerations offered are described as mechanism-based rather than evidence-based. This limits the paper's direct applicability to patient care.
Aesthetic surgery journal · Jun 2026DOI ↗ Limited · human
This observational pharmacovigilance study analyzed Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) from the European EudraVigilance (EV) database to investigate whether GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, lixisenatide, dulaglutide) and the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist tirzepatide are disproportionately associated with thyroid cancer-related adverse events. The study retrieved 34,956 ICSRs reported between January 2022 and September 2024. Most adverse events affected adult and elderly female patients, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most commonly reported category. Using disproportionality analysis (Reporting Odds Ratio, ROR), the study found that semaglutide had a statistically significantly lower probability of thyroid cancer-related adverse event reporting compared to tirzepatide (ROR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.37–0.81). The authors acknowledge key limitations inherent to pharmacovigilance databases, including reporting bias, confounding by indication, and the inability to establish causality. They conclude that findings must be interpreted cautiously and that further prospective studies are needed to clarify whether a true causal relationship exists between GLP-1 RAs and thyroid cancer risk.
Pharmacological reports : PR · May 2026DOI ↗ Limited · human
This pharmacovigilance study analyzed reports submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to compare biliary adverse events (AEs) across five GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs): semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, exenatide, and dulaglutide. After deduplication, 3,460 reports were included. Using semaglutide as the reference, the authors calculated proportional reporting ratios (PRR), reporting odds ratios (ROR), and Fisher exact tests across five biliary outcomes: cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, biliary colic, bile duct stone, and cholangitis. The study found that compared with semaglutide, exenatide and tirzepatide showed lower relative reporting for bile duct stone, while exenatide and dulaglutide showed lower relative reporting for biliary colic. Dulaglutide showed higher relative reporting for cholangitis. Exenatide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide all showed higher relative reporting for cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were broadly consistent, though rarer outcomes lost statistical significance. Key limitations include the inherent biases of spontaneous reporting databases (underreporting, confounding by indication, and lack of denominator data), which preclude causal inference. The authors concluded that biliary AE reporting patterns differ meaningfully across agents within the GLP-1RA class.
Digestive diseases and sciences · May 2026DOI ↗ Review
This review synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials and high-quality meta-analyses on approved and investigational obesity medications, examining their effects beyond weight loss alone. Medications reviewed include phentermine-topiramate, naltrexone-bupropion, GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide, semaglutide), and newer multiagonist agents (tirzepatide, survodutide, mazdutide, retatrutide, cagrilintide-semaglutide, and amycretin). The authors evaluated impacts across a broad range of obesity-related comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, polycystic ovary syndrome, osteoarthritis, muscle mass, depression, quality of life, food cravings, binge-eating disorders, substance use disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. The review concludes that GLP-1-based and multiagonist therapies demonstrate beneficial effects across these conditions. Notably, the authors report that while many benefits appear to be mediated through weight reduction, accumulating evidence suggests weight loss-independent mechanisms, particularly for GLP-1 receptor agonist-based therapies. Key limitations include its reliance on synthesized rather than primary data and variability in evidence quality across the individual conditions reviewed.
The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · May 2026DOI ↗ Limited · humanPreprint
This large pharmacovigilance study analyzed 20.3 million FDA FAERS adverse event reports (2004–2024) to investigate impaired gastric emptying (IGE) as a potential class-wide adverse effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). Researchers identified 6,868 IGE reports across nine GLP-1 RA agents and applied the proportional reporting ratio (PRR) method with sensitivity analyses, supplemented by cross-national validation using 29 reports from Brazil's pharmacovigilance database. The study found that all nine agents exceeded established Evans signal detection criteria, with PRRs ranging from 4.4 (exenatide) to 83.9 (injectable semaglutide). Notably, oral and injectable semaglutide showed comparable PRRs, suggesting a systemic rather than route-dependent mechanism. Tirzepatide prescribed for type 2 diabetes showed a substantially higher PRR than the same drug prescribed for obesity, which the authors interpret as a possible effect of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. A pre-litigation signal analysis was also conducted to account for potential notoriety bias. Key limitations include the inherent constraints of spontaneous pharmacovigilance data—including reporting bias, lack of denominator data, and inability to establish causation—as well as the small cross-national validation sample (n=29). The authors conclude that findings support pre-treatment risk stratification discussions for gastroparesis in GLP-1 RA candidates.
Unknown journal · May 2026DOI ↗