Should I ask my doctor about switching to one of these medications?

If you have type 2 diabetes and heart disease, GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and liraglutide are already recommended by major cardiology guidelines. Talk to your doctor about whether one of these medications is right for you.

What is CagriSema and can I get it?

CagriSema is a combination medication currently in Phase III clinical trials. It is not yet approved by the FDA or European Medicines Agency, so it is not available as a standard prescription yet.

What does 'network meta-analysis' mean?

It's a research method that lets scientists compare multiple treatments against each other using data from many different studies, even if those treatments were never tested head-to-head in the same trial.

GLP-1 Drugs & Heart Protection: Major Review Planned

Key takeaways

✓First review to compare semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, and CagriSema together across all high-risk populations
✓Will examine critical outcomes including death, heart attack, stroke, and hospitalisation
✓Uses rigorous network meta-analysis to compare medications even without head-to-head trials
✓Could guide doctors and patients toward the most heart-protective GLP-1 medication

Quick specs

Journal	BMJ open
Year	2025
PMID	41371743

What Is This Study About?

This is a protocol — a detailed plan for a research study that hasn't happened yet. Scientists are setting up a major review to compare four popular GLP-1 medications and their ability to protect people with type 2 diabetes, obesity, or heart disease from serious cardiovascular events.

The Medications Being Studied

Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)
Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)
CagriSema (still in clinical trials, not yet approved)

Who Is This Research For?

The review will focus on people at increased risk of cardiovascular events, including those with:

Type 2 diabetes
Overweight or obesity
Existing heart disease
Chronic kidney disease

What Will the Researchers Measure?

The primary outcome (most important finding) will be:

All-cause mortality (death from any cause)

Secondary outcomes will include:

Heart attacks (myocardial infarction)
Strokes
All-cause hospitalisation

How Will the Study Work?

Researchers will search major medical databases and clinical trial registries to find all relevant randomised controlled trials. They will use a technique called network meta-analysis, which allows them to compare multiple medications against each other — even if they weren't directly compared in the same trial.

Why Does This Matter for Patients?

Both the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology already recommend GLP-1 medications for people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. However, no previous review has compared all four of these medications together across all high-risk groups. This review could help doctors and patients make better-informed decisions about which medication offers the greatest heart protection.

Important Note

This study has not yet produced results. This publication simply describes the plan for the research. Results are expected after the literature search is completed in December 2025.

References & Sources

Frequently asked questions

Not yet — this publication is just the research plan. The actual results will come after the full review is completed following a literature search planned for December 2025.

Editorial note

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diabetes management. Last reviewed: July 16, 2026 by the MDS Diabetes editorial team.

What to do next

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GLP-1 Medications & Heart Protection: Major Review Planned