Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1s) are a class of medications currently approved to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity, with emerging evidence for applications in a broad range of indications from sleep apnea to neurodegenerative disorders. This study describes prescribing trends for four of the most frequently prescribed GLP-1s indicated for obesity and diabetes, with a focus on the association between indication and utilization patterns.
METHODS: We used IQVIA’s National Prescription Audit (NPA) dataset, which represents >93% of retail coverage and 3.7 billion annual transactions. Prescription claims for four GLP-1s indicated for obesity (Wegovy®, Zepbound®) and diabetes (Mounjaro®, Ozempic®) from January 2023 to September 2024 were included in the analysis. Descriptive trends were assessed overall and by age, sex, and provider type.
RESULTS: During the study period, 88.2 million prescriptions were dispensed for the GLP1-s of interest. Ozempic® was the most frequently prescribed (52%), followed by Mounjaro® (29%), Wegovy® (14%), and Zepbound® (5%). The majority of prescriptions indicated for obesity were prescribed to female patients (Wegovy®: 78%; Zepbound®: 76%), compared to prescriptions indicated for diabetes (Mounjaro®: 63%; Ozempic: 59%). Most prescriptions indicated for obesity were written to patients 20-39 (25%) and 40-59 (59%). In contrast, most prescriptions indicated for diabetes were written for patients 40-59 (Mounjaro®: 52%; Ozempic®: 46%) and 60+ (Mounjaro®: 26%; Ozempic®: 45%). A third of all GLP-1 prescriptions were written by primary care providers (38%), followed by nurse practitioners (25%). Endocrinologists, Cardiologists and Obstetricians/Gynecologists (OB/GYNs) were the next top prescribers among all four products.
CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1s indicated for obesity were more likely to be prescribed to younger and female patients, compared to GLP-1s indicated for diabetes. Further research is needed to identify factors influencing these trends, such as patient comorbidities, prescriber and patient preference, and accessibility, as indications expand.