Truveta Research has produced a comprehensive GLP-1 RA monitoring report using data-driven methods. They’ve used the real-world data collected from more than 100 million US patients. This has helped them identify consistent prescribing patterns. Of particular note is the early adoption of tirzepatide, an anti-obesity medication, despite hurdles related to cost and availability.
Existing data on the use of GLP-1 RA medications, either as anti-diabetic or anti-obesity treatments, is sparse. The growing interest in these medications is primarily due to their weight-loss benefits. However, the prohibitive costs, lack of insurance coverage for certain patients, and medication shortages pose significant challenges.
The monitoring report reveals key trends, such as the early adoption of Tirzepatide for obesity. The data shows that between October and December 2023, the overall prescription rates stabilized. Most new prescriptions, about 86.6%, were for anti-diabetic medications, with the remaining 13.4% being anti-obesity prescriptions. Semaglutide was the most commonly prescribed anti-diabetic medication, followed closely by tirzepatide, which gained popularity towards the end of 2023.
A recent session hosted by The Evidence Base in collaboration with Truveta presented valuable research insights. Patients using tirzepatide were found more likely to achieve weight-loss goals than those using semaglutide. This trend held true regardless of their type 2 diabetes status.
However, new prescriptions for GP-1 RA medications dipped slightly in December 2023. Interestingly, those assigned anti-diabetic medications were more likely to stick to their prescriptions (71.5%) than those assigned anti-obesity meds (45.6%). Overall, Semaglutide remained the most popular initial prescription for anti-diabetic medication throughout 2023.
While the overall prescription of semaglutide increased throughout the year, the first-time prescription of this medication dropped from 0.9% in May to 0.5% in December 2023. Meanwhile, tirzepatide prescriptions showed a rising trend, with evidence of its first application for anti-obesity appearing in December 2023.
With the rising popularity of GLP-1 RA medications and the associated access issues, Truveta plans to persistently track the prescribing and distribution trends. Its detailed report provides insights into population demographics, associated health conditions, and social factors affecting these trends.
