Oral semaglutide fails to slow early Alzheimer’s decline in two phase 3 trials

Despite hopes raised by earlier observational studies and biomarker shifts, The Lancet trials found that oral semaglutide did not meaningfully slow clinical progression in early Alzheimer’s disease over two years.

Safety was broadly consistent with known semaglutide effects, with more gastrointestinal and weight-related side effects reported.

Study: Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide 14 mg (flexible dose) in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (evoke and evoke+): two phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trials. Image Credit: Nefedova Tanya / Shutterstock

A recent study published in The Lancet evaluated the safety and efficacy of oral semaglutide in people with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by gradual cognitive and functional decline. Interventions targeting early stages of AD are considered critical for delaying disease progression and reducing long-term disability. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), has shown promise in metabolic and cardiovascular conditions and is being explored for its potential neuroprotective effects.