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Evidence · Journal club · continued

Second pass at: Journal club: STEP 4 and what a withdrawal design can prove posts 31–60

This is a continuation of a long topic, addressed by post number rather than by page. Start at post 1.

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i.norgaardTL2 Moderator19 Jun 2025#31

This follows post #28 rather than contradicting it.

SOUL (N Engl J Med 2025): Oral semaglutide cardiovascular outcomes. Extends the cardiovascular evidence to the oral formulation. Note that oral bioavailability is lower and more variable than injectable.

15 likes 13mo
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impurity_tableTL3Analytical chemist22 Jun 2025#32
d.bakker, post #26: FLOW (N Engl J Med 2024): Semaglutide renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Stopped early for efficacy. Component-by-component analysis is essential because the components differ in how patient-important they are. Go to post

SURMOUNT-OSA (N Engl J Med 2024): Tirzepatide in obstructive sleep apnoea, using an objective physiological endpoint. Notable because soft endpoints are avoided. Two parallel trials addressed the confounder directly.

30 likes in reply to #26 13mo
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n.laurentTL2 Moderator25 Jun 2025#33

SURPASS-2 (N Engl J Med 2021): Direct comparison of tirzepatide with semaglutide 1.0 mg. The 1.0 mg dose is not the highest available, which is the central and legitimate criticism of the head-to-head evidence.

0 likes 13mo
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compounding_ruthTL4Pharmacist28 Jun 2025#34

Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.

The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.

3 likes 13mo
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v.sjobergTL2 Moderator30 Jun 2025#35
p.marchetti, post #25: SELECT (N Engl J Med 2023): Semaglutide cardiovascular outcomes without diabetes. The first outcome trial in people without diabetes, which decoupled the cardiovascular argument from glucose control. Read the absolute numbers, not just the relative reduction. Go to post

Session format: read the paper before posting. The discussion is much better when everyone has. Start with the estimand and population, then methods, then results, then limitations. That order makes critique coherent.

10 likes in reply to #25 13mo
TV
t.vasquezTL4 Moderator3 Jul 2025 · edited#36
n.laurent, post #33: SURPASS-2 (N Engl J Med 2021): Direct comparison of tirzepatide with semaglutide 1.0 mg. The 1.0 mg dose is not the highest available, which is the central and legitimate criticism of the head-to-head evidence. Go to post
Staff post. Actions described here are recorded in the public moderation log and may be challenged in Meta.

Critical appraisal template: (1) What did the trial set out to estimate? (2) Could the design answer that question? (3) Was the population sufficiently similar to your population to apply the results? (4) What was the absolute effect, not just the relative one? (5) What are the two strongest criticisms available?

22 likes in reply to #33 13mo
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m.rasmussenTL26 Jul 2025#37
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z.onwukaTL2 Moderator8 Jul 2025#38

On post #34 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.

TRIUMPH (ongoing): Retatrutide phase 3. No results yet. Nothing should be attributed to it because it has not finished. When it does, this discussion will return to it.

1 like 13mo
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n.petrovTL2 Moderator11 Jul 2025#39

STEP 1 (N Engl J Med 2021): The pivotal obesity trial for semaglutide and the reference point for most subsequent comparison. Mean weight reduction was substantially larger than anything previously achieved pharmacologically.

29 likes 13mo
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b.nilsenTL2 Moderator14 Jul 2025#40

I read post #38 twice before replying, because I had assumed the opposite.

Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.

The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.

0 likes 12mo
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GSwinburneTL1Member16 Jul 2025#41

Coming back to post #39, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

FLOW (N Engl J Med 2024): Semaglutide renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Stopped early for efficacy. Component-by-component analysis is essential because the components differ in how patient-important they are.

21 likes 12mo
MO
m.oyelaranTL2 Moderator19 Jul 2025#42

SURMOUNT-1 (N Engl J Med 2022): Tirzepatide obesity trial. The largest mean weight reduction for a pharmacological intervention at publication. Read the categorical thresholds carefully — they can exaggerate separation.

9 likes 12mo
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citation_indexTL221 Jul 2025#43
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a.kravchenkoTL2 Moderator24 Jul 2025#44
s.chowdhury, post #19: post #18 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different. TRIUMPH (ongoing): Retatrutide phase 3. No results yet. Nothing should be attributed to it because it has not finished. When it does, this discussion will return to it. Go to post

post #43 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different.

SOUL (N Engl J Med 2025): Oral semaglutide cardiovascular outcomes. Extends the cardiovascular evidence to the oral formulation. Note that oral bioavailability is lower and more variable than injectable.

15 likes in reply to #19 12mo
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BirkelandTL3Regular26 Jul 2025 · edited#45

I read post #43 twice before replying, because I had assumed the opposite.

STEP 1 (N Engl J Med 2021): The pivotal obesity trial for semaglutide and the reference point for most subsequent comparison. Mean weight reduction was substantially larger than anything previously achieved pharmacologically.

3 likes 12mo
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v.rautioTL2 Moderator29 Jul 2025#46

This follows post #43 rather than contradicting it.

I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.

The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.

0 likes 12mo
CT
cannula_traceTL3Regular1 Aug 2025#47

Critical appraisal template: (1) What did the trial set out to estimate? (2) Could the design answer that question? (3) Was the population sufficiently similar to your population to apply the results? (4) What was the absolute effect, not just the relative one? (5) What are the two strongest criticisms available?

22 likes 12mo
GA
g.amankwahTL2 Moderator3 Aug 2025#48
lyophil_margin, post #15: SURMOUNT-1 (N Engl J Med 2022): Tirzepatide obesity trial. The largest mean weight reduction for a pharmacological intervention at publication. Read the categorical thresholds carefully — they can exaggerate separation. Go to post

Session format: read the paper before posting. The discussion is much better when everyone has. Start with the estimand and population, then methods, then results, then limitations. That order makes critique coherent.

10 likes in reply to #15 12mo
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OTeixeiraTL3Regular6 Aug 2025#49
lyophil_margin, post #15: SURMOUNT-1 (N Engl J Med 2022): Tirzepatide obesity trial. The largest mean weight reduction for a pharmacological intervention at publication. Read the categorical thresholds carefully — they can exaggerate separation. Go to post

Having read the exchange above, I think I was wrong earlier in this topic and I want to say so plainly rather than quietly editing.

The correction was fair and I had been repeating something I had not checked carefully enough.

1 like in reply to #15 12mo
SO
s.oyelaranTL28 Aug 2025#50
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forest_plotTL3Evidence synthesis11 Aug 2025#51

post #50 is right about the mechanism and I think understates the practical bit.

TRIUMPH (ongoing): Retatrutide phase 3. No results yet. Nothing should be attributed to it because it has not finished. When it does, this discussion will return to it.

19 likes 12mo
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e.steinerTL2 Moderator13 Aug 2025#52

Worth separating two things that post #48 runs together.

SURPASS-2 (N Engl J Med 2021): Direct comparison of tirzepatide with semaglutide 1.0 mg. The 1.0 mg dose is not the highest available, which is the central and legitimate criticism of the head-to-head evidence.

0 likes 11mo
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q.zhao_qaTL3Quality assurance15 Aug 2025#53
v.sjoberg, post #35: Session format: read the paper before posting. The discussion is much better when everyone has. Start with the estimand and population, then methods, then results, then limitations. That order makes critique coherent. Go to post

PIONEER 6 (N Engl J Med 2019): Cardiovascular safety trial for oral semaglutide, not efficacy. Non-inferiority for safety was met. The trial was not designed to establish benefit, though point estimates favoured the drug.

2 likes in reply to #35 11mo
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i.lehtinenTL2 Moderator18 Aug 2025 · edited#54

FLOW (N Engl J Med 2024): Semaglutide renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Stopped early for efficacy. Component-by-component analysis is essential because the components differ in how patient-important they are.

8 likes 11mo
PI
p.iyer_pharmdTL3Pharmacist20 Aug 2025#55

SURMOUNT-1 (N Engl J Med 2022): Tirzepatide obesity trial. The largest mean weight reduction for a pharmacological intervention at publication. Read the categorical thresholds carefully — they can exaggerate separation.

26 likes 11mo
HI
h.iyerTL2 Moderator23 Aug 2025#56
s.chowdhury, post #19: post #18 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different. TRIUMPH (ongoing): Retatrutide phase 3. No results yet. Nothing should be attributed to it because it has not finished. When it does, this discussion will return to it. Go to post

On post #52 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.

Practical note that does not fit anywhere else. Whatever you conclude from this topic, write down what you did and when. The single most useful thing in your own records is not any individual result; it is that they are dated and consecutive.

0 likes in reply to #19 11mo
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blank_injectionTL2Analytical chemist25 Aug 2025#57
impurity_table, post #32: SURMOUNT-OSA (N Engl J Med 2024): Tirzepatide in obstructive sleep apnoea, using an objective physiological endpoint. Notable because soft endpoints are avoided. Two parallel trials addressed the confounder directly. Go to post

SURMOUNT-1 (N Engl J Med 2022): Tirzepatide obesity trial. The largest mean weight reduction for a pharmacological intervention at publication. Read the categorical thresholds carefully — they can exaggerate separation.

4 likes in reply to #32 11mo
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n.villalobosTL2 Moderator28 Aug 2025#58

FLOW (N Engl J Med 2024): Semaglutide renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Stopped early for efficacy. Component-by-component analysis is essential because the components differ in how patient-important they are.

12 likes 11mo
ER
eire_readerTL2Regional · IE30 Aug 2025 · edited#59

I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.

The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.

0 likes 11mo
ZS
z.szaboTL21 Sep 2025#60