SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor antagonists effectively control blood sugar but are prohibitively expensive

SGLT2 and GLP1 have been found to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), microvascular disease, and mortality in addition to improving glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and cardiovascular risk factors.

Researchers have found in a new study that use of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists as first-line treatment for type-2 diabetes would improve outcomes, but their use is prohibitively expensive treatment option.

The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

These medications have been recommended for second-line therapy in both American and European guidelines but may be a prohibitively expensive treatment option for some payers.

Researchers from the University of Chicago Department of Medicine created an individual patient-level model to simulate the lifetime incidence, prevalence, mortality, and costs associated with having type-2 diabetes. They created several treatment outcomes, including the first-line use of metformin and second-line use of SGLT2 or GLP1, the first-line use of SGLT2, and the first-line use of GLP1.