Real-World Use of Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the SURE UK Multicentre, Prospective, Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction

Once-weekly (OW) semaglutide was associated with clinically relevant improvements in glycaemic control and body weight versus comparators in the SUSTAIN randomised controlled trials (RCTs). SURE UK, which is one of a series of individual studies that comprise the SURE programme, evaluated the use of OW semaglutide in a real-world patient population with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the UK.

Methods

In this prospective, observational study, adults (≥ 18 years) with ≥ 1 documented glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) value ≤ 12 weeks before semaglutide initiation were enrolled. The primary endpoint was change in HbA_1c from baseline to end of study (EOS; ~ 30 weeks, although due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visits up to week 52 were permitted). Secondary endpoints included change in body weight, waist circumference and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Physicians were to report all episodes of documented or severe hypoglycaemia, fatal events, serious adverse drug reactions, pregnancies and adverse events (AEs) in foetuses/newborn infants; other AEs during the study period could be reported on a voluntary basis.

Result

The estimated mean change in HbA_1c from baseline to EOS was − 16.3 mmol/mol [95% confidence interval (CI): − 18.22, − 14.37] (− 1.5%-points [95% CI − 1.67, − 1.31]; p < 0.0001) among the 171 enrolled patients who completed the study on treatment. Mean body weight change was − 5.8 kg (95% CI − 6.75, − 4.94; p < 0.0001). Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. Improvements were also observed in other secondary endpoints, including PROs. No new safety concerns were identified with semaglutide treatment.

Conclusion

Patients receiving OW semaglutide experienced statistically significant and clinically relevant reductions from baseline in HbA_1c and body weight. These results are in line with those of the SUSTAIN RCTs and support the use of OW semaglutide in routine clinical practice in adults with T2D in the UK.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03876015.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13300-021-01141-8.

Key Summary Points

Why carry out this study?

In the SUSTAIN phase 3 clinical trial programme, once-weekly (OW) semaglutide demonstrated superior, clinically relevant glycaemic and body weight reductions versus a wide range of comparators in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Real-world evidence on the use of OW semaglutide in routine clinical practice is needed to augment these clinical trial findings.

The SURE programme, which was conducted across 10 countries, investigated the use of OW semaglutide in patients with T2D in real-world clinical practice.

Here, we report the results of SURE UK, a prospective, multicentre, single-arm, open-label, observational study.

What was learned from the study?

In real-world clinical practice, patients receiving OW semaglutide experienced statistically significant and clinically relevant glycaemic and body weight reductions; no new safety concerns were observed.

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a significant health problem globally, with a high prevalence in many countries including the UK; Diabetes UK estimated the prevalence of T2D in the UK in 2019 at 3.9 million [1]. Treatment guidelines for T2D—including those from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)—emphasise the need for continuous, patient-centred care that extends beyond glycaemic control [2–5]. Multifactorial risk-reduction strategies that cover a treatment’s safety profile and associated patient-reported outcomes (PROs), such as patient preference, are recommended to delay or prevent complications while maintaining quality of life [2–5]. Of the treatment options recommended by guidelines, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as liraglutide, dulaglutide and semaglutide, have been associated with several benefits, including improved glycaemic control, reduced body weight, cardiorenal protection [6–10] and a low risk of hypoglycaemia [8, 11], and are recommended as second-line therapy by the ADA/EASD guidelines [2]. According to the NICE guidelines (undergoing revision at the time of writing), GLP-1RA therapy can be continued only if the person with T2D shows a beneficial metabolic response. This response is defined by a reduction, within 6 months, of ≥ 11 mmol/mol (1%-point) in glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c) and a reduction of ≥ 3% in initial body weight [4]. In addition, NICE only recommends GLP-1RA initiation for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 35 kg/m² and specific psychological or other medical problems associated with obesity, or with a BMI < 35 kg/m² and significant occupational implications for insulin therapy, or body weight reductions that would benefit other significant obesity-related comorbidities [4].

Once-weekly (OW) subcutaneous semaglutide 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg is a GLP-1RA approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled T2D [12, 13]. In the SUSTAIN clinical trial programme, OW semaglutide demonstrated superior, clinically relevant glycaemic and body weight reductions versus placebo and a wide range of active comparators [9, 10, 14–20]. Although semaglutide was investigated in a broad range of subjects with T2D in these randomised controlled trials (RCTs), it is important to gather data on its use in the full spectrum of patients encountered in real-life clinical practice to complement and validate the results from RCTs [21].

The SURE programme, which consists of nine observational studies across 10 countries, aims to obtain real-world evidence (RWE) on the use of OW semaglutide in a wide range of patients with T2D across various countries. To date, the findings from SURE studies conducted in Canada [22], Denmark/Sweden [23] and Switzerland [24] have been reported. These studies reported reductions in HbA_1c and body weight from baseline to end of study (EOS) that are in line with those observed in the SUSTAIN programme. The SURE UK study aimed to evaluate the use of OW semaglutide in routine clinical practice in primary and secondary care settings in the UK.

Methods

Study Design

This prospective, multicentre, open-label, observational study of approximately 30 weeks’ duration was conducted to assess the use of OW semaglutide in adults with T2D attending eight specialist and 19 general practice clinics in the UK. The decision to initiate semaglutide treatment and any changes were made by the treating physician. Any changes to the semaglutide treatment regimen were to be recorded. The decision to include the patient in the study was made separately from the decision to initiate OW semaglutide. Diet and physical activity counselling and additional antihyperglycaemic treatments, prescribed at the physician’s discretion, were permitted in accordance with routine clinical practice. Informed consent was obtained at the first (treatment initiation) visit at week 0. The EOS visit was planned as the first visit that occurred between weeks 28 and 38. However, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions, patients were allowed to attend the EOS visit until week 52. The study was conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki [25] and the Guidelines for Good Pharmacoepidemiology Practices [26]. All study materials were approved by the South West—Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee (reference number: 19/SW/0048), and all patients provided their informed consent prior to taking part in the study. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03876015. Novo Nordisk obtained the license to use the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) in this study.

Study Population

The first patient’s first visit was on 1 May 2019 and the last patient’s last visit on 12 August 2020. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 18 years at the time of providing informed consent; diagnosis of T2D ≥ 12 weeks prior to inclusion in the study; and the availability of documented HbA_1c measurements within 12 weeks prior to semaglutide treatment initiation. Key exclusion criteria were: previous participation in this study; incapacity, unwillingness or language barriers precluding adequate understanding; treatment with any investigational drug within 90 days prior to enrolment into the study; and hypersensitivity to semaglutide or to any of the excipients. The study duration of approximately 30 weeks was considered sufficient to initiate and optimise the semaglutide regimen and to obtain enough real-world data for the evaluation of the primary endpoint.

Endpoints

The primary endpoint was change in HbA_1c (mmol/mol and %-point) from baseline to EOS. Secondary supportive endpoints included: changes in body weight (kg) and waist circumference (cm) from baseline to EOS; the proportion of patients achieving an HbA_1c level of < 7% (53 mmol/mol) at EOS; proportion of patients achieving weight reduction of ≥ 3% and ≥ 5%; and the proportion of patients achieving the composite endpoint of an HbA_1c reduction of ≥ 1%-point (11 mmol/mol) and a weight reduction of ≥ 3% at EOS. Finally, changes in scores for PROs from baseline to EOS were measured using the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire status version (DTSQs) and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36^®v2). The DTSQs contains 6 items relating to absolute treatment satisfaction (two additional items relating to perception of hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia are not presented in the current analysis) [27]. Each item was scored on a 7-point scale, where 0 = very dissatisfied and 6 = very satisfied. The DTSQ change version (DTSQc) score was assessed at EOS. The DTSQc includes the same questions as the DTSQs but is designed to assess relative satisfaction with the current treatment compared with the previous treatment [28]. In the DTSQc, each of the 6 items about treatment satisfaction is scored on a scale from – 3 (much less satisfied) to + 3 (much more satisfied). The SF-36^®v2 questionnaire comprises 36 questions that are grouped into eight domains (physical functioning, bodily pain, role-physical, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional and mental health). These domains are combined into two summary component scores: the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) [29]. Exploratory assessments included: the weekly dose of semaglutide at EOS; the level of patient-reported medication adherence at EOS (low, medium or high), which was based on the MMAS-8 [30–32]; the physician’s assessment of whether or not clinical success had been achieved in relation to the reasons for initiating semaglutide treatment for a given individual; and the number of severe or documented hypoglycaemic episodes. Post-hoc assessments for change in HbA_1c (%-point and mmol/mol) and body weight (kg) were conducted in subgroups of patients: GLP-1RA naïve (i.e. had not received a GLP-1RA within 12 weeks of baseline); not reaching the target of ≥ 1%-point (11 mmol/mol) and a weight reduction of ≥ 3% at EOS; and those with a baseline BMI < 35 kg/m² (the cut-off for recommending GLP-1RA initiation under current NICE guidelines) [4].

Safety Information

Serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs), fatal events, pregnancies in female patients, adverse events (AEs) in foetuses or newborn infants and all episodes of documented or severe hypoglycaemia were systematically collected. In addition, other AEs during the study period could be reported by physicians on a voluntary basis.

Statistical Analyses

Assuming a 40% drop-out rate, a sample size of 217 was calculated based on the criterion of 90% probability of obtaining a 95% confidence interval (CI) for mean change in HbA_1c from baseline to EOS with a half-width of ≤ 0.30. This half-width limit was chosen to allow for robust evaluation of glycaemic control. The standard deviation of the mean change in HbA_1c was assumed to be 1.6, based on the results of prior observational studies of a similar design [33–35]. Baseline characteristics and AE data were analysed using the full analysis set (FAS), which included all eligible patients who gave informed consent and initiated treatment with semaglutide. The primary analyses of the primary, secondary and exploratory assessments were performed using the effectiveness analysis set (EAS), which included all patients who completed the study (i.e. attended the EOS visit) and were receiving treatment with semaglutide at EOS, as assessed by their physician. Prespecified sensitivity analyses, based on the FAS, were performed to assess the impact of missing data in the primary analysis. The FAS included all patients who signed informed consent forms and initiated semaglutide treatment, regardless of any subsequent discontinuations or availability of HbA_1c measurements at EOS. An analysis of covariance model was used for the primary analyses of the primary endpoint and the analysis of the continuous secondary supportive endpoint. The sensitivity analyses were performed using a mixed model for repeated measurements on all patients in the FAS with at least one post-baseline HbA_1c measurement in the on-treatment and in-study periods. All statistical tests were performed as two-sided tests with a significance level of 0.05. No adjustments were made for multiple comparisons.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients were permitted to attend the EOS visit beyond week 38 (until week 52) from study initiation. An additional post-hoc sensitivity analysis was performed, restricted to patients with visit 6 within the original window, to investigate whether this delay affected the primary endpoint and the change in body weight from baseline to EOS.

Results

Patient Disposition and Baseline Characteristics

Of the 221 patients who gave informed consent, six did not meet the eligibility criteria and were not enrolled into the study. The remaining 215 patients initiated treatment with semaglutide and were included in the FAS. In total, 34 patients attended the EOS visit after 38 weeks. A total of 44 patients did not complete the study and/or discontinued study treatment (Fig. 1). The 171 patients who completed the study on treatment comprised the EAS. The mean baseline HbA_1c of patients in the FAS was 74.0 mmol/mol (8.9%), and 20 (9.3%) patients had HbA_1c < 7% (Table 1). The majority (90.2%) were white and most (85.4%) had obesity, as defined by a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²; this was reflected in the mean baseline body weight (107.8 kg), BMI (37.2 kg/m²) and waist circumference (118.6 cm) (Table 1).

Fig. 1.

Patient disposition. ^aPatients who initiated semaglutide treatment and attended the EOS visit; ^b37 (21.6%) visits were carried out by telephone due to restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic and 34 (19.9%) EOS visits were performed outside of the 28- to 38-week visit window. EAS effective analysis set, EOS end of study, FAS full analysis set, GI gastrointestinal

Table 1.

Demographics and baseline characteristics

Characteristic
Age, years	59.0 (11.6)
Race, n (%)
Asian	8 (3.7)
Black or African American	8 (3.7)
White	194 (90.2)
Other	5 (2.3)
Female, n (%)	94 (43.7)
HbA1c, mmol/mol	74.0 (18.3)
HbA1c, %	8.9 (1.7)
HbA1c < 53.0 mmol/mol (7.0%), n (%)	20 (9.3)
Fasting plasma glucose, mmol/La	12.0 (4.9)
Body weight, kgb	107.8 (24.4)
Body mass index, kg/m2c	37.2 (7.95)
Waist circumference, cmd	118.6 (16.3)
Diabetes duration, years	11.0 (6.3)
eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2e	83.6 (21.2)
Comorbid conditions, n (%)
Diabetic retinopathy	60 (27.9)
Diabetic neuropathy	25 (11.6)
Diabetic nephropathy	21 (9.8)
Cardiovascular history, n (%)
Hypertension	144 (67.0)
Dyslipidaemia	91 (42.3)
Coronary heart disease	33 (15.3)
Heart failure	9 (4.2)
Stroke	6 (2.8)
Peripheral vascular disease	5 (2.3)
Cardiovascular medications, n (%)
Cardiac therapy	9 (4.2)
Antihypertensive agents	18 (8.4)
Diuretics	35 (16.3)
Vasoprotective agents	1 (0.5)
Beta-blocking agents	50 (23.3)
Calcium channel blockers	60 (27.9)
Agents acting on the renin–angiotensin system	130 (60.5)
Lipid-modifying agents	143 (66.5)
Platelet aggregation inhibitorsf	39 (18.1)
Other antithrombotic agents	10 (4.7)
Reasons to initiate semaglutide, n (%)g
Improve glycaemic control	192 (89.3)
Weight reduction	155 (72.1)
Issues with hypoglycaemia	9 (4.2)
Address cardiovascular risk factors	42 (19.5)
Simplify current treatment regimen	37 (17.2)
Convenience	41 (19.1)
Other	10 (4.7)
Starting dose of semaglutide, n (%)
0.25 mg	204 (94.9)
0.5 mg	8 (3.7)
1.0 mg	3 (1.4)

Values are based on FAS (n = 215) unless otherwise noted. Data on continuous variables are mean (standard deviation) unless otherwise specified

eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate, FAS full analysis set, HbA_1c glycated haemoglobin

^an = 26

^bn = 214

^cn = 213

^dn = 128

^en = 193

^fExcluding heparin

^gMore than one reason for initiating semaglutide could be selected

Hypertension and dyslipidaemia were the most prevalent cardiovascular comorbidities at baseline, affecting 67.0% and 42.3% of patients, respectively (Table 1). The majority of the 215 patients in the FAS (94.9%) initiated semaglutide treatment at a dose of 0.25 mg (Table 1). Physicians primarily initiated semaglutide to improve glycaemic control; weight reduction was a secondary reason (Table 1). No patients were receiving both a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor and a GLP-1RA (other than semaglutide) at baseline.

Glycaemic Control

In the EAS, the estimated mean change in HbA_1c from baseline to EOS was − 16.3 mmol/mol [95% CI − 18.22, − 14.37; p < 0.0001] or − 1.5%-points [95% CI − 1.67, − 1.31; p < 0.0001] (Table 2). The change in mean HbA_1c over the course of the study in the FAS is shown in Supplementary Fig. S1. Analysis of the FAS produced results for the overall population that were consistent with those for the EAS (Table 2), and the sensitivity analysis carried out on the FAS, including all HbA_1c measurements in the on-treatment observation period, supported the conclusions from the primary analysis. The results from the post-hoc sensitivity analysis, which was restricted to patients with visit 6 within the original visit window (week 28 to 38), were in line with the results of the primary analysis (Supplementary Table S1). At EOS, the proportion of patients achieving an HbA_1c level of 53 mmol/mol (< 7%) was 46.4% in the EAS (Fig. 2).

Table 2.

Changes in primary and secondary endpoints from baseline to EOS in the EAS and FAS^a

	EAS					FAS
	nb	Baseline mean (SD)	Mean at EOSc	Change from baseline (95% CI)	p-value	nb	Baseline mean (SD)	Mean at EOSc	Change from baseline (95% CI)	p-value
HbA1c (mmol/mol)	149	72.1 (16.8)	55.8	− 16.3 (− 18.22, − 14.37)	< 0.0001	183	72.9 (17.6)	56.8	− 16.6 (− 18.41, − 14.75)	< 0.0001
HbA1c (%-point)	149	8.7 ( 1.5)	7.3	− 1.5 (− 1.67, − 1.31)	< 0.0001	183	8.8 (1.6)	7.4	− 1.5 (− 1.68, − 1.35)	< 0.0001
Body weight (kg)	149	108.4 (24.6)	102.6	− 5.8 (− 6.75, − 4.94)	< 0.0001	161	108.6 (25.9)	103.0	− 5.6 (− 6.48, 4.71)	< 0.0001
Waist circumference(cm)	118	118.6 (17.3)	112.8	− 5.8 (− 7.05, − 4.55)	< 0.0001	128	119.0 (17.4)	113.2	− 5.9 (− 7.07, − 4.64)	< 0.0001

Data shown are in-study values

CI confidence interval, EAS effectiveness analysis set, EOS end of study, FAS full analysis set, HbA_1c glycated haemoglobin, SD standard deviation

^aChanges in HbA_1c in the FAS were determined using a mixed model for repeated measurements

^bNumbers of patients refer to those included in the analysis

^cMean values for EOS are estimated means

Fig. 2.

Proportions of patients achieving HbA_1c targets and weight-reduction responses at EOS. Data are based on the effectiveness analysis set (n = 171). n indicates the number of patients contributing to the analysis. EOS end of study, HbA_1c glycated haemoglobin

Among the 130 patients in the EAS who were GLP-1RA naïve, the estimated mean change in HbA_1c from baseline to EOS was comparable with that from the main analysis: − 17.1 mmol/mol (95% CI − 19.26, − 15.01; p < 0.0001) or − 1.6%-points (95% CI − 1.76, − 1.37; p < 0.0001). The estimated mean change in HbA_1c from baseline to EOS in the EAS for the 82 patients who did not reach the target of a ≥ 1%-point HbA_1c reduction and weight reduction of ≥ 3% at EOS was lower than in the complete EAS: − 10.1 mmol/mol (95% CI − 12.92, − 7.25; p < 0.0001) or − 0.9%-points (95% CI − 1.18, − 0.66; p < 0.0001). There were 63 patients in the EAS who had a BMI of < 35 kg/m² at baseline. Among these patients, the estimated mean change in HbA_1c from baseline to EOS was similar to that from the main analysis: − 17.2 mmol/mol (95% CI − 20.22, − 14.19; p < 0.0001) or − 1.6%-points (95% CI − 1.85, − 1.30; p < 0.0001).

Body Weight and Waist Circumference

In the EAS, the estimated mean change in body weight from baseline to EOS was − 5.8 kg (95% CI − 6.75, − 4.94; p < 0.0001), with similar results seen in the FAS (Table 2) and the EAS restricted to patients with a visit 6 within the original visit window (Supplementary Table S1). At EOS, the proportion of patients in the EAS achieving a weight reduction of ≥ 3% or ≥ 5% was 62.4% and 49.7%, respectively (Fig. 2). For the change in waist circumference, the estimated mean change from baseline to EOS was − 5.8 cm (95% CI − 7.05, − 4.55; p < 0.0001); again, similar results were seen in the FAS (Table 2).

The estimated mean change in body weight from baseline to EOS was − 6.5 kg (95% CI − 7.45, − 5.48; p < 0.0001) for the 130 GLP-1RA-naïve patients, − 2.6 kg (95% CI − 3.73, − 1.55; p < 0.0001) for the 82 patients who did not reach the target of a ≥ 1%-point HbA_1c reduction and a weight reduction of ≥ 3% at EOS, and − 4.2 kg (95% CI − 5.33, − 2.98; p < 0.0001) for the 60 patients who had a BMI of < 35 kg/m² at baseline (and weight reduction data available for analysis).

Composite Endpoint

The proportion of patients achieving the composite endpoint of a ≥ 1%-point HbA_1c reduction and a weight reduction of ≥ 3% was 39.7% (Fig. 2).

Use of Semaglutide and Other Antihyperglycaemic Medications (EAS)

The mean weekly dose of semaglutide at EOS was 0.73 ± 0.31 mg. At EOS, one patient (0.6%) was not receiving semaglutide at any dose (likely due to an interruption in treatment at the time of study completion), 29 (17.0%) patients were receiving 0.25 mg OW semaglutide; 47 (27.5%) were receiving 0.5 mg; one (0.6%) was receiving 0.75 mg OW semaglutide; and 93 (54.4%) were receiving 1.0 mg. Use of antihyperglycaemic medication either remained the same or declined from baseline to EOS, except that one additional patient reported the use of premixed insulin at EOS (Table 3).

Table 3.

Concomitant antihyperglycaemic medications at baseline and EOS

Antihyperglycaemic medication, n (%)	Baseline (n = 215)	End of in-study observation period (n = 215)
Metformin	167 (77.7)	165 (76.7)
Sulphonylurea	47 (21.9)	34 (15.8)
Thiazolidinediones	8 (3.7)	8 (3.7)
DPP-4i	36 (16.7)	11 (5.1)
SGLT-2i	83 (38.6)	79 (36.7)
Other GLP-1RA	27 (12.6)	1 (0.5)
Basal insulin	48 (22.3)	47 (21.9)
Premixed insulin	26 (12.1)	27 (12.6)
Fast-acting insulin	30 (14.0)	20 (9.3)
Other glucose-lowering drugs	2 (0.9)	2 (0.9)
No medication	5 (2.3)	11 (5.1)

Data are based on the full analysis set (n = 215)

DPP-4i dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, EOS end of study, GLP-1RA glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, SGLT-2i sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor

Patient- and Physician-Reported Outcomes

The estimated mean self-reported treatment adherence score, measured using the MMAS-8, was 6.4 at baseline and 7.1 at EOS, with 29.7% and 48.1% of patients reporting high adherence, respectively (Table 4). Mean DTSQs score was 28.6 at baseline (observed) and 31.8 at EOS (estimated), resulting in an estimated change of 3.3 (95% CI 2.39, 4.11; p < 0.0001) (Supplementary Fig. S2). At EOS, the overall estimated mean DTSQc (change version) score was 14.4, indicating increased treatment satisfaction at EOS, and estimated changes from baseline to EOS in SF-36^®v2 PCS and MCS scores were 1.7 (95% CI 0.44, 2.89; p = 0.008) and 0.8 (95% CI − 0.72, 2.33; p = 0.299), respectively (Supplementary Fig. S2). According to their physicians, the majority of the patients (85.4%) achieved clinical success at EOS in relation to the reason to initiate semaglutide treatment.

Table 4.

MMAS-8 scores at baseline and EOS

MMAS-8 score	Baseline (n = 165)	EOS (n = 154)
Estimated mean (SD)	6.4 (1.6)	7.1 (1.3)
Level of adherence, n (%)
High adherence  (score of 8)	49 (29.7)	74 (48.1)
Medium adherence  (score of 6 to < 8)	62 (37.6)	53 (34.4)
Low adherence  (score of < 6)	54 (32.7)	27 (17.5)

Data are based on the effectiveness analysis set (n = 171). MMAS-8 is an 8-item structured, self-reported medication adherence measure with scores ranging from 0 (no adherence) to 8 (high adherence) [30–32]

EOS end of study, MMAS-8 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, SD standard deviation

Use of the ^©MMAS is protected by US copyright laws. Permission for use is required. A license agreement is available from Donald E. Morisky, MMAS Research LLC, 14725 NE 20th St. Bellevue, WA 98007, or from dmorisky@gmail.com

Safety

Overall, 157 AEs were reported in 76 patients in the FAS during the study (Table 5); the majority (137) of these events were considered non-serious. More than half of the 157 events (83) were gastrointestinal (Table 5). A total of 43 AEs in 22 patients (10.2% of the FAS) led to discontinuation of treatment. Twenty serious AEs were reported in 13 (6.0%) patients in the FAS. Twelve events in six (2.8%) patients were judged by the physician to be probably or possibly related to semaglutide treatment (i.e. 12 SADRs) (Table 5): five SADRs resolved by EOS, one SADR resolved with sequelae (a pancreatitis event of moderate severity) and one SADR was not resolved by EOS. The status of the remaining five events was unknown at EOS. Of the eight serious AEs (in eight patients) deemed unlikely to be related to semaglutide treatment, one event with a fatal outcome was reported (sudden death). Documented hypoglycaemia was reported from baseline to EOS in 14 (6.5%) patients in the EAS. There were no severe hypoglycaemic events reported.

Table 5.

AEs and severe or documented hypoglycaemic episodes

	Patients, n (%)	Events, n
All AEs	76 (35.3)	157
Serious AEs	13 (6.0)	20
Severity of AEs
Mild	55 (25.6)	99
Moderate	27 (12.6)	45
Severe	8 (3.7)	13
Serious adverse drug reactions	6 (2.8)	12
AEs leading to treatment discontinuation	22 (10.2)	43
Gastrointestinal AEs	51 (23.7)	83
Severe or documented hypoglycaemia between baseline and EOS	14 (6.5)	29

Data are based on the full analysis set (n = 215), except for the hypoglycaemia data, which are based on the effectiveness analysis set (n = 171)

AE adverse event, EOS end of study

Discussion

In this SURE UK study, patients treated with semaglutide experienced statistically significant and clinically relevant reductions in HbA_1c, body weight and waist circumference. These improvements were seen even in those patients who did not meet the NICE criteria for GLP-1RA continuation (reaching a reduction of ≥ 11 mmol/mol [1%-point] in HbA_1c and a reduction of ≥ 3% of their initial body weight in 6 months) [4]. In addition, patients with a BMI  of < 35 kg/m² also experienced clinically relevant reductions in HbA_1c and body weight; these patients would not typically be prescribed a GLP-1RA under current UK NICE guidelines (unless insulin therapy has significant occupational implications or body weight reductions benefit other significant obesity-related comorbidities) [4]. In SURE UK, PRO measures (treatment satisfaction and health-related quality of life) also improved from baseline to EOS.

There is some evidence of differences in the efficacy of incretin-based therapy between Asian and non-Asian populations [36]; however, because the majority (90.2%) of patients in the SURE UK study were white, it was not possible to determine differences in mean outcome change by race.

To our knowledge, SURE UK is the first prospective RWE study of OW semaglutide in routine clinical practice in the UK. The glycaemic and weight reductions observed in the SURE UK study are consistent with those observed in the SURE studies carried out in Canada [22], Denmark/Sweden [23] and Switzerland [24]. Changes in HbA_1c from baseline to EOS were − 0.9, − 1.2 and − 0.8%-points in SURE Canada, Denmark/Sweden and Switzerland, respectively, versus − 1.5%-point in this study, and weight reductions in the SURE Canada [22], Denmark/Sweden [23] and Switzerland [24] studies were 4.3, 5.4 and 5.0 kg, respectively, versus 5.8 kg in this study. The higher baseline HbA_1c (%) in the SURE UK study (8.9 [1.7] compared with 8.1 [1.3] for SURE Canada, 7.9 [1.4] for Denmark/Sweden and 7.8 [1.4] for Switzerland) may have contributed to the greater reduction reported versus the other SURE studies. Patients in the SURE UK study also experienced HbA_1c and weight reductions that are consistent with those observed in the phase 3 RCTs in the SUSTAIN programme, where change in HbA_1c ranged from − 1.1 to − 1.8%-points and change in body weight ranged from − 3.5 to − 6.5 kg with OW semaglutide versus comparators (placebo, sitagliptin, exenatide extended release, insulin glargine, dulaglutide, canagliflozin, liraglutide) [6, 9, 10, 14–20]. This was despite the fact that approximately one in six patients in the SURE UK study were still receiving semaglutide at the initiation dose of 0.25 mg at EOS, while patients in the SUSTAIN RCTs would have been receiving semaglutide at the maintenance doses of 0.5 or 1.0 mg. The population studied in the SURE UK study was broader than those studied in the SUSTAIN RCTs; in particular, not all patients were GLP-1RA naïve. In addition, the safety data reported in the SURE UK study were in line with the safety profile of semaglutide in the SUSTAIN RCTs [6, 9, 10, 14–20]. No new safety concerns with semaglutide were identified in the current study. However, caution should be exercised when comparing the observations from the SURE UK study with the SUSTAIN RCT results due to differences in study design and baseline characteristics of the population. The baseline HbA_1c of 8.9% and body weight of 107.8 kg in SURE UK were higher than those for the populations of the SUSTAIN clinical trial programme, in which baseline HbA_1c ranged from 8.1 to 8.4% and body weight from 89.5 to 95.8 kg [37].

Furthermore, the results of this study are consistent with those from other real-world studies. In the SPARE retrospective observational study of data from the Canadian LMC Diabetes Registry, 937 GLP-1RA-naïve adults with T2D who initiated therapy with semaglutide experienced reductions in HbA_1c and body weight of 1%-point and 3.9 kg, respectively (p < 0.0001 for both reductions) at 4.9 months’ follow-up [38]. In an observational prospective analysis of RWE of the GLP-1RA dulaglutide that was carried out in 182 patients with T2D in Clyde, UK, statistically significant reductions in HbA_1c at 3 months (14.29 mmol/mol) and 6 months (13.68 mmol/mol) were noted. The reduction in weight observed in this study was 2.06 kg at 3 months and 3.46 kg at 6 months [39].

The population of a real-world study is more diverse than that included in an RCT, and the variety of characteristics and demographics of the patient population of SURE UK is an inherent strength of the study. Additionally, a real-world study assesses the use of the drug in routine clinical practice, as opposed to the controlled settings applied in an RCT. Other strengths of the study include the long duration and the inclusion of both primary and secondary care settings in the UK. Lastly, the estimated mean changes in HbA_1c and body weight from baseline to EOS and the associated 95% CIs for the post-hoc analysis were similar to those seen in primary analysis, corroborating the robustness of the results.

There are several limitations to the SURE UK study, which are related to its design. As with the other SURE observational studies, the objective of the SURE UK study was descriptive rather than comparative: to enhance the understanding of the use of semaglutide in a real-world setting of a heterogeneous population of patients in routine clinical practice in the UK. Therefore, information on a group of patients receiving a comparator was not collected in this study. In the absence of a randomised comparator group, we cannot rule out the impact of prognostic factors and regression to the mean, and we cannot directly infer the estimated changes in the outcomes as causal effects of study treatment. However, the magnitudes of the changes in HbA_1c and body weight observed in SURE UK are consistent with those reported for the SUSTAIN trials [6, 9, 10, 14–20]. The primary analysis based on patients continuing treatment to EOS could have led to overestimations of the reductions in HbA_1c and body weight. Secondary analyses of FAS that were not restricted to patients finalising the study on treatment supported the results of the primary analysis, which suggests that large overestimation of treatment outcomes is unlikely. In addition, due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, patients were allowed to attend the EOS visit until week 52, rather than at weeks 28–38 as originally planned. However, the results of a post-hoc sensitivity analysis that excluded EOS visits outside the 28- to 38-week window support the main findings, suggesting that this did not have a major impact on the results. Finally, the data were collected during routine clinical practice rather than through mandatory assessments at prespecified time points, which may have affected the robustness and completeness of the dataset.

Conclusion

In the SURE UK real-world study, semaglutide treatment was associated with clinically relevant glycaemic control and body weight reductions and improvements in other clinical parameters in a broad spectrum of patients with T2D across both specialist and primary care settings in the UK. Semaglutide was well tolerated, with relatively low rates of treatment discontinuation. The reported safety data raised no new concerns. These results support the use of OW semaglutide in routine clinical practice in adults with T2D in the UK. Future RWE from different settings and geographic locations will provide more information for clinicians and decision makers on the clinical use of OW semaglutide for patients with T2D.

Supplementary Information

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