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Review
. 2025 Mar 12;18(3):399.
doi: 10.3390/ph18030399.

Semaglutide as a GLP-1 Agonist: A Breakthrough in Obesity Treatment

Rui Salvador  1 , Carla Guimarães Moutinho  1   2   3 , Carla Sousa  1   2 , Ana Ferreira Vinha  1   2 , Márcia Carvalho  1   2   3 , Carla Matos  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Semaglutide as a GLP-1 Agonist: A Breakthrough in Obesity Treatment

Rui Salvador et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). .

Abstract

This review addresses the role of semaglutide (SMG), a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in the treatment of obesity and its related comorbidities. Originally developed for type 2 diabetes (DM2), SMG has shown significant efficacy in weight reduction, with superior results compared to other treatments in the same class. Its effects include appetite suppression, increased satiety, and improvements in cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic parameters. Studies such as SUSTAIN, PIONEER, and STEP highlight its superiority compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists and anti-obesity drugs. The oral formulation showed promising initial results, with higher doses (50 mg) showing weight losses comparable to those of subcutaneous administration. Despite its benefits, there are challenges, such as weight regain after cessation of treatment, gastrointestinal adverse effects, and variability of response. Future studies should explore strategies to mitigate these effects, identify predictive factors of efficacy, and expand therapeutic indications to other conditions related to obesity and insulin resistance. The constant innovation in this class of drugs reinforces the potential of SMG to transform treatment protocols for chronic weight-related diseases.

Keywords: GLP-1 receptor agonist; metabolic disorders; obesity; semaglutide; weight loss therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mechanism of semaglutide for the management of obesity (Created in BioRender. Carvalho, M. (2025) https://BioRender.com/l84z782).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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