Switching to Ozempic from another GLP-1 RA significantly reduced blood sugar and weight in people with type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice - Seite 2

"GLP-1 receptor agonists have been shown to safely lower blood glucose levels and help lower weight, therefore they are recommended by all diabetes treatment guidelines as either second- or third-line treatment options in most people with type 2 diabetes," said study investigator Dr. Ildiko Lingvay, who consults for Novo Nordisk and is a Professor of Internal Medicine, and Population and Data Sciences at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "These data provide information from the real-world use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and further support the recommendations in the clinical guidelines by showing that initiation of a GLP-1 receptor agonist helps more people with type 2 diabetes reach their blood sugar goals while also helping them lose weight."

"More than half of people with type 2 diabetes do not reach their blood sugar target, yet we know that consistently poor blood sugar control can lead to serious complications," said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. "Real-world data is therefore essential to help physicians select optimal treatment for their patients to meet their blood sugar goals, and it is reassuring to see from the EXPERT study that the efficacy Ozempic demonstrated in the SUSTAIN Phase 3 clinical trial programme is reflected in routine clinical practice."

Whilst real-world evidence generates valuable insights about the effectiveness of a medicine in a real-life setting, there are also limitations. Real-world studies may be subject to bias and confounding factors, aspects that are controlled for in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). For example, electronic data may be inconsistently collected, with missing data elements that can result in reduced statistical validity. Similarly, adverse events are rarely captured in databases that act as data sources for real-world studies. Therefore real-world evidence should be considered alongside the results of RCTs and the findings evaluated with appropriate caution. As seen in clinical trials, the most common side effects of Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach (abdominal) pain, and constipation.