Indication and Usage

RYBELSUS^® (semaglutide) tablets 7 mg or 14 mg is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Limitations of Use

• RYBELSUS^® is not recommended as a first-line therapy for patients who have inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise because of the uncertain relevance of rodent C-cell tumor findings to humans
• RYBELSUS^® has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Consider other antidiabetic therapies in patients with a history of pancreatitis
• RYBELSUS^® is not indicated for use in patients with type 1 diabetes

Important Safety Information (cont'd)

Contraindications

• RYBELSUS^® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), and in patients with a prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any of the excipients in RYBELSUS^®. Serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported with RYBELSUS^®

Warnings and Precautions

• Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors: Patients should be further evaluated if serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated or thyroid nodules are noted on physical examination or neck imaging
• Pancreatitis: Has been reported in clinical trials. Observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue RYBELSUS^® and initiate appropriate management; if confirmed, do not restart RYBELSUS^®
• Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: In a pooled analysis of glycemic control trials with RYBELSUS^®, patients reported diabetic retinopathy related adverse reactions during the trial (4.2% with RYBELSUS^® and 3.8% with comparator). In a 2-year trial with semaglutide injection involving patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, more events of diabetic retinopathy complications occurred in patients treated with semaglutide injection (3.0%) compared to placebo (1.8%). The absolute risk increase for diabetic retinopathy complications was larger among patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy at baseline than among patients without a known history of diabetic retinopathy.
  Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy
• Hypoglycemia: Patients receiving RYBELSUS^® in combination with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Inform patients using these concomitant medications of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia
• Acute Kidney Injury: There have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure, which may sometimes require hemodialysis, in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. Some of these events have been reported in patients without known underlying renal disease. A majority of the reported events occurred in patients who had experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration. Monitor renal function when initiating or escalating doses of RYBELSUS^® in patients reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions
• Hypersensitivity: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema) have been reported in patients treated with RYBELSUS^®. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue use of RYBELSUS^®, treat promptly per standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. Use caution in a patient with a history of angioedema or anaphylaxis with another GLP-1 receptor agonist
• Acute Gallbladder Disease: Acute events of gallbladder disease such as cholelithiasis or cholecystitis have been reported in GLP-1 receptor agonist trials and postmarketing. In placebo-controlled trials, cholelithiasis was reported in 1% of patients treated with RYBELSUS^® 7 mg. Cholelithiasis was not reported in RYBELSUS^® 14 mg or placebo-treated patients. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and appropriate clinical follow-up are indicated

Adverse Reactions

• The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with RYBELSUS^® are nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting and constipation

Drug Interactions

• When initiating RYBELSUS^®, consider reducing the dose of concomitantly administered insulin secretagogue (such as sulfonylureas) or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia
• RYBELSUS^® delays gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the absorption of other oral medications. Closely follow RYBELSUS^® administration instructions when coadministering with other oral medications and consider increased monitoring for medications with a narrow therapeutic index, such as levothyroxine

Use in Specific Populations

• Pregnancy: Available data with RYBELSUS^® are not sufficient to determine a drug-associated risk for major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Based on animal reproduction studies, there may be risks to the fetus from exposure to RYBELSUS^®. Use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus
• Lactation: There are no data on the presence of semaglutide in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. Because of the unknown potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant due to the possible accumulation of salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), an absorption enhancer in RYBELSUS^®, from breastfeeding and because there are alternative formulations of semaglutide that can be used during lactation, advise patients that breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with RYBELSUS^®
• Discontinue RYBELSUS^® in women at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy due to the long washout period for semaglutide
• Pediatric Use: Safety and efficacy of RYBELSUS^® have not been established in pediatric patients (younger than 18 years)

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