A groundbreaking clinical trial has found that an oral medication for type 2 diabetes could offer a new lifeline for children and adolescents, a population that currently has few treatment options. The 26-week study showed that oral semaglutide significantly lowered blood sugar levels in patients aged 10 to 17, marking the first successful trial of an oral GLP-1 drug in this age group.
The study enrolled 132 participants and measured changes in HbA1c, a key marker of long-term blood glucose control. Those who took the medication saw their HbA1c drop by 0.83 percentage points more than those on a placebo, a result the company called statistically significant. Currently, no oral GLP-1 therapy is approved for pediatric use, leaving doctors with limited options such as metformin, which fails to control blood sugar in about half of adolescent cases, or insulin, which carries risks of hypoglycemia and weight gain.
Type 2 diabetes, once considered an adult disease, is rising sharply among young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 364,000 American children and adolescents under 20 have diabetes. Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk’s chief scientific officer, noted the dramatic increase in pediatric cases over the past two decades. “Oral semaglutide is an effective treatment option for children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes who require glycaemic control beyond that provided by the current standard of care,” he said.
What This Means for Patients and Next Steps
The drug is already available for adults under the brand names Rybelsus and as an oral formulation of Ozempic, with the latter expected to launch in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2026. The company plans to seek regulatory approval to expand both brands to include pediatric and adolescent patients in the U.S. and Europe during the second half of 2026. If approved, semaglutide would become the first oral GLP-1 medication authorized for younger populations.
The trial’s safety results were consistent with those seen in adult studies, offering reassurance for families and doctors. With regulatory submissions expected before the end of the year, the path is clearing for a much-needed treatment option that could help thousands of young patients manage their condition more effectively and with fewer side effects.