Semaglutide's Efficacy and Safety for Weight Loss in Obese People with HIV Under Investigation

Obesity is a growing global health concern, significantly impacting People with HIV (PWH), who face unique metabolic challenges. Current standard-of-care for weight management often includes lifestyle interventions, but these may not be sufficient for sustained weight loss in this population. GLP-1 receptor agonists like liraglutide have demonstrated efficacy in general obesity populations, achieving significant weight reduction and cardiometabolic improvements. However, the specific benefits and safety profile of semaglutide in obese PWH, particularly concerning its effects on immune function, viral reservoir, and gut microbiome, remain largely unknown. This study aims to fill that critical knowledge gap.

This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in promoting weight loss among obese People with HIV (PWH). The primary objective is to compare weight reduction achieved with semaglutide against a control arm receiving diet and exercise alone. Secondary objectives include exploring the impact of semaglutide on immune function, markers of immune activation, viral reservoir, glucose and lipid metabolism markers, and the gut microbiome. The abstract describes the aim of the study, not the completed methodology, so specific doses, routes, durations, or sample sizes are not yet available.

The provided abstract outlines the aims of the study but does not present any completed results or findings. Therefore, no specific data, percentages, p-values, or fold-changes regarding semaglutide's efficacy, safety, or its effects on immune function, viral reservoir, or metabolic markers in People with HIV are available at this stage. The research is positioned to explore these outcomes, but the findings are not yet reported.