LANGHORNE, PA — Amplity Health shared valuable findings from its latest study on GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) usage patterns during the ISPOR Europe 2024 conference. The research, based on data from the Amplity Insights™ database—soon to be known as AnswerY™—analyzed real-world usage of these medications in the United States between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2024.
The study used advanced AI and natural language processing to evaluate prescriptions for four GLP-1 RAs—liraglutide, dulaglutide, semaglutide, and exenatide—across 94,762 patients. Insulin-combination therapies like SOLIQUA® were excluded from the analysis due to limited data.
Key Trends in GLP-1 RA Usage
The research revealed significant variations in prescribing patterns. Liraglutide accounted for 40.6% of prescriptions, making it the most commonly used GLP-1 RA. It was followed by dulaglutide (35.5%), semaglutide (15.8%), and exenatide (10.3%), while tirzepatide showed limited use at just 0.4% of patients overall.
When comparing usage among diabetic (86,140 patients) and nondiabetic (8,622 patients) populations, some distinct differences emerged:
- Semaglutide was prescribed more frequently to nondiabetic patients (25.6%) than diabetic patients (14.9%).
- Dulaglutide usage was higher among diabetic patients (36.4%) compared with nondiabetics (25.7%).
- Tirzepatide had a relatively higher prescription rate for nondiabetic patients (2.6%) than for diabetic patients (0.2%).
Weight Loss and GLP-1 RAs
The study also shed light on the limited use of GLP-1 RAs for weight management, likely due to issues such as manufacturing constraints, supply challenges, and insurance limitations. However, Amplity Insights anticipates a rise in usage of medications like tirzepatide for weight loss, especially in patients with a BMI of 30 or higher, or those with a BMI of 27 or higher and associated health conditions.
Future Potential
The findings provide a foundation for expanding treatment options for both diabetes and obesity. Amplity Insights predicts growing opportunities for GLP-1 RAs to address weight management needs as availability improves and new anti-obesity drugs enter the market. These insights are expected to help guide healthcare providers and policymakers in making informed decisions about access, insurance coverage, and treatment pathways.
This groundbreaking study highlights the evolving role of GLP-1 RAs in healthcare, offering critical data to enhance patient care and address the growing challenges of diabetes and obesity management.
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