(090) Characteristics of Initial Prescription Dispensations Among Individuals Newly Prescribed GLP-1 Medications in a National Retail Pharmacy Database

Background: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are effective in treating Type 2 diabetes by improving glycemic control and promoting weight loss. Recent GLP-1 products have shown significant improvements in health outcomes, including 15 to 25% of weight loss, generating increased interest in these products for treating obesity. As the prevalence of diabetes and obesity continues to rise, the GLP-1 market is expected to grow and exceed $100 billion by 2030. New prescription initiations of GLP-1s have significantly increased over the past few years.

Objectives: To understand utilization patterns of initial dispensations of GLP-1 medications by observing patients with prescriptions for GLP-1 medications from a large, nationally representative, US retail pharmacy chain database.

Methods: Retrospective analyses of retail pharmacy data serving 130 million customers in the United States were conducted from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023. GLP-1 prescriptions were identified by ATC and NDC codes. Analyses included adults with a GLP-1 prescription initiated in 2022 or 2023 with no GLP-1 prescriptions initiated in the respective year prior. Descriptive statistics of first GLP prescriptions will be presented by processing and pickup status: ordered, filled, and dispensed.

Results: A total of 1,892,901 individuals initiated GLP-1 medication in 2022 and 2023. Among these individuals, 66% were female and 34% were male. The study population comprised of 5% of individuals aged 18-29, 12% aged 30-39, 21% aged 40-49, 39% aged 50-64, and 20% aged 65 or older. Estimates of race indicate the majority of the population was White (61%), followed by Black or African American (13%), Asian (4%), and Other (22%).

Prescription characteristics of GLP-1 initiations varied by medication and year approved, with differences observed in the number of prescriptions ordered, filled, and dispensed. Semaglutide had the highest number of prescriptions ordered, filled and dispensed over the study period, followed by dulaglutide, and tirzepatide. In 2023, semaglutide had 6,373,085 prescriptions ordered, 3,139,907 filled, and 2,522,699 dispensed, compared to 2,795,251 prescriptions ordered, 1,533,680 filled, and 1,178,991 dispensed in 2022. An overall increase in prescriptions ordered, filled, and dispensed was observed from 2022 to 2023 for semaglutide, dulaglutide, and tirzepatide.

Conclusions: Recently approved GLP-1 medications have led to significant improvements in health outcomes, resulting in a growth of prescriptions for these medications. Understanding these increases can provide valuable insights for healthcare providers and policymakers in optimizing strategies for diabetes management and treatment adherence.