Rybelsus Now First Line Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes
Key takeaways:
- Rybelsus is an oral diabetes drug approved as a first-line treatment for people with type 2 diabetes.
- It uses the same active ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide), the difference being that Rybelsus is an oral medication taken daily, while Ozempic is a weekly injection.
- In addition to the glucose-lowering effects, research also shows that Rybelsus has heart health benefits.
In 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Rybelsus (semaglutide), a GLP-1 medication, can now be offered as a first-line treatment option for people with type 2 diabetes. This means doctors can now prescribe Rybelsus to their patients first instead of starting with another diabetes medication, such as metformin.
Benefits of Rybelsus
Rybelsus is a medication called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by increasing insulin production (which lowers blood glucose) and inhibiting glucagon production (which increases blood glucose) to lower A1C levels. One of the key advantages of Rybelsus is that it is the only approved GLP-1 medication that can be taken as a pill instead of an injection, which makes it more convenient.
Rybelsus can also help people with type 2 diabetes lose weight. This is because the medication can reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness, leading to weight loss. This is especially important for people with type 2 diabetes, as losing weight is an important way to prevent complications.
Moreover, clinical trials have also found that Rybelsus helps protect the heart. In the PIONEER 6 trial, participants taking Rybelsus experienced cardiovascular protection. Another large trial completed in 2024 found that people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease taking Rybelsus experienced a 14% reduction in major cardiovascular-related events, such as heart attacks and stroke. Since people with diabetes are at a higher risk for heart disease, taking one pill that addresses both high blood sugar and heart health is a helpful option.
FDA approves Rybelsus for first-line treatment
Initially approved in 2019, Rybelsus had a limitation that it should not be used as the initial therapy for treating people with 2 diabetes. A 2023 FDA announcement removed this limitation and updated the prescribing information for Rybelsus.
"The removal of the limitation of use is an important step forward for people living with type 2 diabetes and provides the option for Rybelsus to be taken earlier,” said Aaron King, a family medicine and diabetes specialist in San Antonio, Texas, in a statement from Novo Nordisk.
In conjunction with lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, taking Rybelsus earlier could help people with type 2 diabetes better manage blood sugar levels and help prevent potentially dangerous complications.
Learn more about Rybelsus, semaglutide, and other GLP-1 medications here: