New Chemical Forms of an Absorption Enhancer Could Help Make Oral Semaglutide More Effective
Researchers created novel phenolate salt versions of SNAC (the absorption enhancer used in oral semaglutide) that maintained drug absorption while potentially expanding the toolkit for oral peptide delivery.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Three novel SNAC phenolate salts were successfully synthesized and shown to maintain equivalent oral pharmacokinetic performance for semaglutide delivery in vivo.
Key Numbers
Three SNAC salt forms synthesized: SNAC-choline, SNAC-sodium, and SNAC-phosphatidylcholine.
How They Did This
Chemical synthesis of SNAC phenolate salts confirmed via 1H-NMR, FTIR, and elemental analysis. In vivo oral pharmacokinetic testing in rats comparing new salts to standard SNAC for semaglutide delivery.
Why This Research Matters
Oral delivery is a major challenge for peptide drugs, and SNAC is one of only a few proven absorption enhancers. Expanding the range of SNAC-based enhancers could lead to better formulations with improved stability, absorption, or patient tolerability.
The Bigger Picture
Most peptide drugs require injection because they are destroyed in the digestive system. The success of oral semaglutide has shown that absorption enhancers like SNAC can overcome this barrier. This work expands the chemical space of SNAC-based enhancers, which could improve future oral formulations for semaglutide and other therapeutic peptides.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only tested in rats, so human pharmacokinetics may differ. The study demonstrated non-inferiority to standard SNAC but did not show clear superiority. Long-term safety of the new salt forms was not assessed.
Questions This Raises
- ?Could any of these SNAC phenolate salts improve oral bioavailability beyond what standard SNAC achieves?
- ?How do these new salt forms perform with other peptide drugs besides semaglutide?
- ?What is the stability profile of these salts under various storage conditions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 3 novel SNAC salts All maintained equivalent oral semaglutide absorption compared to standard SNAC
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary evidence from in vitro synthesis and limited in vivo rat testing. No human data or comparison to commercial Rybelsus formulation.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024. Represents current pharmaceutical research on oral peptide delivery.
- Original Title:
- The Synthesis of SNAC Phenolate Salts and the Effect on Oral Bioavailability of Semaglutide.
- Published In:
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 29(16) (2024)
- Authors:
- Shapira-Furman, Tovi, Bar-Hai, Ayala, Hoffman, Amnon(5), Domb, Abraham J
- Database ID:
- RPEP-09246
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SNAC and why is it important for oral semaglutide?
SNAC (sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]caprylate) is an absorption enhancer that helps semaglutide survive digestion and cross the gut lining. It's the key ingredient that makes Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) possible.
Could these new SNAC forms lead to better oral peptide drugs?
Potentially. By creating new chemical variants of SNAC, researchers expand the options for formulating oral peptide drugs. Different salt forms may offer advantages in stability, manufacturing, or absorption for various peptides.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-09246APA
Shapira-Furman, Tovi; Bar-Hai, Ayala; Hoffman, Amnon; Domb, Abraham J. (2024). The Synthesis of SNAC Phenolate Salts and the Effect on Oral Bioavailability of Semaglutide.. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 29(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163909
MLA
Shapira-Furman, Tovi, et al. "The Synthesis of SNAC Phenolate Salts and the Effect on Oral Bioavailability of Semaglutide.." Molecules (Basel, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163909
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "The Synthesis of SNAC Phenolate Salts and the Effect on Oral..." RPEP-09246. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/shapira-furman-2024-the-synthesis-of-snac
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.