Real-world use of once-weekly semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes: Pooled analysis of data from four SURE studies by baseline characteristic subgroups

Abstract

Introduction This post hoc pooled analysis of four real-world studies (SURE Canada, Denmark/Sweden, Switzerland and UK) aimed to characterize the use of once-weekly (OW) semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Research design and methods The Semaglutide Real-world Evidence (SURE) studies had a duration of ∼30 weeks. Changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) and body weight (BW) were analyzed for the overall population and the following baseline subgroups: GLP-1RA-naïve/GLP-1RA switchers; body mass index <25/≥25-<30/≥30-<35/≥35 kg/m 2; age <65/≥65 years; HbA 1c <7%/≥7-≤8%/>8-≤9%/>9%; T2D duration <5/≥5-<10/≥10 years. Data for patients achieving treatment targets were analyzed in the overall population and the baseline HbA 1c ≥7% subgroup. Results Of 1212 patients, 960 were GLP-1RA-naïve and 252 had switched to semaglutide from another GLP-1RA. In the overall population, HbA 1c was reduced from baseline to end of study (EOS) by -1.1% point and BW by -4.7 kg; changes were significant for all subgroups. There were significantly larger reductions of HbA 1c and BW in GLP-1RA-naïve versus GLP-1RA switchers and larger reductions in HbA 1c for patients with higher versus lower baseline HbA 1c. At EOS, 52.6% of patients in the overall population achieved HbA 1c <7%. No new safety concerns were identified in any of the completed SURE studies. Conclusions In this pooled analysis, patients with T2D initiating OW semaglutide showed significant improvements from baseline to EOS in HbA 1c and BW across various baseline subgroups, including patients previously treated with a GLP-1RA other than semaglutide, supporting OW semaglutide use in clinical practice. Trail registration numbers NCT03457012; NCT03631186; NCT03648281; NCT03876015.