Overview of the burden of illness and the role of once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy in type 2 diabetes

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing globally, and as the prevalence of T2D rises, the burden of its associated comorbidities is predicted to increase. Effective treatments for T2D are required to improve diabetes control and reduce its negative impact. Gtucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-RAs) are effective in improving gtycemic control and bodyweight, are associated with a low risk of hypoglycemia, and some have been associated with reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Once-weekly GLP-1RAs have been developed to overcome barriers to treatment adherence. Currently approved once-weekly GLP-1RAs include exenatide extended-release, albiglutide, and dulaglutide. Semaglutide, another once-weekly GLP-1RA, has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of T2D. Compared with other once-weekly GLP-1RAs, semaglutide has shown greater reductions in HbA1c and weight over once-daily GLP-1RAs. This greater efficacy and improvement in MACE, combined with improvements in delivery devices and dispensing procedures, could help address the burden of T2D.