Diabetes research and clinical practiceJul 22, 2023

Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in Japanese people with type 2 diabetes

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 2, 2026

Abstract

The proportion of patients receiving glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in Japan increased from 3.6% to 9.6% between 2016 and 2020.

Among GLP-1RA-naïve patients (n = 569), HbA1c decreased by -0.6% (95% CI -0.7, -0.5) six months after treatment initiation.
Mean body weight decreased by -1.05 kg (95% CI -1.31, -0.80) within the same timeframe.
Mean body mass index (BMI) decreased by -0.43 kg/m2 (95% CI -0.53, -0.32) at six months.
The proportion of GLP-1RA-naïve patients achieving HbA1c < 7.0% increased from 16% to 27%, and those achieving HbA1c < 8.0% increased from 43% to 65% after six months.
An HbA1c reduction of ≥1.0% was observed in 33% of patients after six months.

Simplified

AIMS: To understand glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) use in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japan.

METHODS: Characteristics of people receiving GLP-1RAs between 2016 and 2020 in the J-DREAMS database were investigated. Changes in HbA, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and proportion reaching HbAtargets were analysed in GLP-1RA-naïve patients 6-24 months after GLP-1RA initiation. 1c1c

RESULTS: The proportion of patients with GLP-1RA prescriptions increased from 3.6% to 9.6% during 2016-2020. Among GLP-1RA-naïve patients (n = 569), HbAreduced -‍0.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.7, -0.5; -6 mmol/mol [95% CI -7, -5]) 6 months after treatment initiation and stabilised until 24 months (P < 0.001); mean BW and BMI reduced -1.05 kg (95% CI -1.31, -0.80) and -0.43 kg/m(95% CI -0.53, -0.32), respectively, at 6 months (P < 0.001). The proportion of GLP-1RA-naïve patients with HbA < 7.0% (<53 mmol/mol) and <8.0% (<64 mmol/mol) increased from 16% to 27% and 43% to 65%, respectively, and an HbAreduction of ≥1.0% (≥11 mmol/mol) was observed in 33% of patients after 6 months (P < 0.001). 1c1c1c2

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows increased GLP-1RA prescriptions over 5 years. HbAand BW reduced 6 months after GLP-1RA initiation in patients with T2D in a Japanese real-world setting. 1c

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Competing interests

Declaration of Competing Interest KE, JTM and YY are employees of Novo Nordisk and own stock in the company. MO receives grants from Abbott Japan, Astellas Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan, Kyowa Kirin, MSD, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, in addition to honorarium from Abbott Japan, Astellas Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo Company, Eli Lilly Japan, Kowa, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk, Ono Pharmaceutical, Sanofi, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Sumitomo Pharma, Takeda and Teijin Pharma. KU receives grants from Abbott, Astellas Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Kyowa Kirin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Ono Pharmaceutical, Sanofi, Sumitomo Pharma and Takeda, in addition to honorarium from Astellas Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Kyowa Kirin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD, Novo Nordisk, Ono Pharmaceutical, Sanofi, Sumitomo Pharma and Takeda.

PubMed

Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in Japanese people with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

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