Relationship Between Oral Semaglutide Tablet Erosion and Pharmacokinetics: A Pharmacoscintigraphic Study

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, has been coformulated in a tablet with the absorption enhancer,
sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate (SNAC). 

We investigated tablet erosion and the pharmacokinetics of
oral semaglutide administered with 2 different water volumes and evaluated the relationships between these parameters. 

In a randomized, single-center (Quotient Sciences, UK), open-label, 2-period crossover trial, 26 healthy men received
single doses of 10 mg oral semaglutide with 50 or 240 mL water while fasting. Tablet erosion and gastrointestinal transit
were assessed by gamma scintigraphy. Semaglutide and SNAC plasma concentrations were measured until 24 and 6 hours,
respectively, after administration. Complete tablet erosion (CTE) occurred in the stomach irrespective of water volume
administered with the tablet (primary end point).