(126) Prescribing Patterns for Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Following the Introduction of Semaglutide in Denmark and Norway

Saturday, August 27, 2022

8:00 AM – 6:00 PM CEST

Location: Hall C

Publication Number: 800

Presenting Author(s)

Lotte Rasmussen
– University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Syddanmark, Denmark

Co-Author(s)

Jacob Harbo Andersen
– University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Kari Furu
– Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway, Norway
Øystein Karlstad
– Senior researcher, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
Philip Brenner, MD,PhD
– Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
Anton Pottegård, PhD, MSc
– University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark

Background: Semaglutide is a new glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) indicated for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: The aim was to describe the early uptake of semaglutide in Denmark and Norway and its impact on the use of other GLP-1 RAs indicated for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We identified all users of GLP-1 RAs (excl. Saxenda®) ≥ 18 years of age in Denmark and Norway using nationwide registries on filled prescriptions. From the market introduction of semaglutide in late 2018 until 30 June 2020 (Denmark) and 30 September 2021 (Norway), we described the quarterly incidence rate, prevalence proportion, and the total dispensed quantity in defined daily doses (DDDs) of semaglutide and compared its use to the use of liraglutide and other GLP-1 RAs from 1 January 2018 to June 2020 (Denmark) and September 2021 (Norway).

Results: From the market introduction in late 2018 until the end of the study period, the incidence and prevalence of semaglutide use increased in both Denmark and Norway. In the second quarter of 2020 in Denmark, the incidence rate of semaglutide use reached 8.1/10,000 inhabitants compared to 0.59/10,000 for liraglutide and 0.16/10,000 for other GLP-1 RAs. From the first quarter of 2018 to the end of the second quarter of 2020, the prevalence of liraglutide in Denmark decreased from 94 to 55/10,000 inhabitants while the prevalence of semaglutide increased reaching 133/10,000. In the third quarter of 2021 in Norway, the incidence rate reached 14/10,000 inhabitants for semaglutide compared to 0.67/10,000 for liraglutide and 0.71/10,000 for other GLP-1 RAs. From the first quarter of 2018 to the end of the third quarter of 2021, the prevalence of liraglutide remained stable at around 15/10,000 inhabitants while the prevalence of semaglutide increased reaching 60/10,000. The prevalence of other GLP-1 RAs increased slightly from 7.4 to 11/10,000 inhabitants.

Conclusions: The early uptake of semaglutide in Denmark and Norway has been considerable. At the end of the study period, semaglutide was the most common GLP-1 RA used in both Denmark and Norway.