The promise and hope of GLP-1 receptor agonists
GLP-1 receptor agonists were originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and later of obesity, but there is growing evidence that their benefits extend far beyond reductions in blood glucose and bodyweight. Several agents in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class have been shown to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and the progression of chronic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.1 Moreover, in 2023, the SELECT trial2 found that 2·4 mg semaglutide per week reduced MACE by 20% over a mean period of 3·3 years in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity but without type 2 diabetes.
