SPOTLIGHT real-world study shows semaglutide provides significant cardiorenal benefits in the Chinese population with type 2 diabetes

On September 29, the results of the SPOTLIGHT real-world study initiated by Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B (NVO.US) in China were officially announced at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). The results showed that in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), semaglutide injection can significantly reduce the risk of cardiorenal events and all-cause death. SPOTLIGHT is a retrospective real-world study based on an electronic health record database in the Tianjin region of China. The study included more than 160,000 Chinese adult T2D patients who newly initiated semaglutide, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), or insulin between 2022 and 2023. Patients were divided into a semaglutide group that newly initiated semaglutide treatment and a non-semaglutide group that newly initiated other glucose-lowering drugs and did not receive semaglutide during the study period. After 1:1 propensity score matching, each group had more than 25,000 patients, with a mean age of 58 years and a median diabetes duration of 6.2 years, of whom 42% had chronic kidney disease and 87% had cardiovascular disease. During a median follow-up of 1.9 years, compared with the non-semaglutide group, data from the semaglutide group showed that its treatment regimen significantly reduced the risk of 3P-MACE (a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and all-cause death) in Chinese T2D patients by 25%, significantly reduced the risk of all-cause death by 65%, and significantly reduced the risk of the renal composite event (a composite of kidney failure, sustained decline in eGFR of >=50% from baseline, and death related to kidney or cardiovascular disease) by 8%. Subgroup analyses and exploratory analyses of the SPOTLIGHT study showed: In T2D patients receiving primary cardiovascular prevention (without comorbid cardiorenal disease, with only hypertension and/or dyslipidemia), semaglutide treatment significantly reduced the risk of MACE by up to 48%; Compared with SGLT2i alone, treatment with semaglutide combined with SGLT2i further significantly reduced the risk of MACE by 54%; The higher the adherence to semaglutide treatment, the more significant the cardiorenal benefits patients obtained; Compared with continuous semaglutide treatment, treatment interruption was associated with a higher risk of cardiorenal outcomes. Dr. Kezhou Zhang, Vice President of Medical and Quality for Novo Nordisk Greater China, said: "Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes, and authoritative international and Chinese guidelines both place the control of cardiovascular risk in an important position in the management of type 2 diabetes. As a weekly GLP-1RA formulation with clear cardiovascular benefits, semaglutide has been recognized and recommended by major guidelines at home and abroad. In a real-world clinical setting, the SPOTLIGHT study confirmed that semaglutide significantly reduces the risk of cardiorenal outcomes and the risk of all-cause death in the Chinese type 2 diabetes population, and suggests that early initiation, long-term adherence, and rational combination use can achieve the cardiorenal benefits of semaglutide to a greater extent." Dr. Yan Cai, Senior Vice President of Novo Nordisk and President of Greater China, said: "We are very pleased to see so much solid real-world evidence of the clinical benefits of our internationally originated innovative drug, NovoCare (semaglutide injection), in Chinese patients. For a century, Novo has led R&D innovation in the fields of diabetes and obesity. Over more than 30 years since entering China, we have always adhered to the 'patient-centered' philosophy, accelerated the introduction of innovative drugs, continuously improved drug accessibility, and actively shared the company's global experience and resources in the chronic disease field, working with all parties to help more Chinese patients." About NovoCare NovoCare (semaglutide injection) is the world's first and only* GLP-1RA with three major indications: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular protection, and kidney protection. NovoCare has up to 94% homology with human native GLP-1. In 2021, NovoCare was approved in China with "dual indications" for lowering glucose and reducing cardiovascular events, becoming China's first and only* weekly GLP-1RA formulation with a cardiovascular indication, and was included in the National Reimbursement Drug List in the same year. In July 2025, after NovoCare was approved for the chronic kidney disease indication, it became the first and currently only* incretin drug with three indications covering glucose, heart, and kidney. In December 2025, the Chinese label of NovoCare added benefit results for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In July 2026, NovoCare was successfully included in the National Essential Medicines List (2026 Edition), becoming the only* weekly GLP-1RA formulation in that list. Currently, the indications of NovoCare in China are as follows: Indicated for glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes: In adult patients with type 2 diabetes whose blood glucose remains inadequately controlled despite metformin and/or sulfonylurea treatment, in addition to diet control and exercise Indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke) in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease Indicated to reduce the risk of sustained decline in eGFR, end-stage kidney disease, and cardiovascular death in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease *As of September 2026 Disclaimer This press release is intended only to convey relevant cutting-edge scientific information and market news. This press release does not constitute a recommendation, promotion, or advertisement for any drug or treatment regimen. Readers should not refer to, rely on, or depend on any content of this press release to make any decision to purchase or use any drug or treatment regimen. If readers have questions about drugs or treatment, please consult medical and health professionals. This press release contains forward-looking information regarding products of Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B, and the validity of such information is only as of its date of publication. Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B has no obligation to update the relevant information for any changes arising from new information, future events, event developments, or other reasons. Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B assumes no responsibility for any loss directly or indirectly arising from the use of, reliance on, or any omission of any information contained in this press release. Before forwarding, using, or otherwise processing the information in this press release, the relevant actors shall be responsible for ensuring that their actions comply with any applicable laws, regulations, and regulatory requirements of all relevant countries or jurisdictions. All direct or indirect consequences arising from citing, reprinting, editing, or otherwise using the information contained in this press release shall be borne entirely by the relevant actors, and Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B shall not be responsible for them. Relevant actors are advised to carefully assess risks before forwarding, using, or otherwise processing the information in this press release, and to consult professional legal advice when necessary. Hereby declared.