Substantial gains in market share for GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors, notes GlobalData

Data and analytics company, GlobalData, has observed substantial gains in market share across the seven major markets (7MM) of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.

Both drug classes had combined sales that exceeded $8 billion in 2017, which can be attributed to the glycaemic and non-glycaemic benefits they offer — such as CV benefits, weight and/or blood pressure reductions.

“Across the 7MM, there are currently 14 approved GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors collectively (not including combination varieties),” explains Jesus Cuaron, PhD, PPM, managing healthcare analyst at GlobalData. “The timeline of approved GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors in the 7MM, confirms that Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (semaglutide) and Merck and Pfizer’s Steglatro (ertugliflozin) received the most recent regulatory approvals in 2017.”

Ozempic is an injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, administered once a week, that has been shown to provide significant reductions of both glycated haemoglobin (A1c) and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in clinical trial conditions (SUSTAIN-6).

“Steglatro, a SGLT-2 inhibitor, provides significant A1c reductions while also harbouring numerous non-glycaemic advantages, such as weight loss and a reduction in systolic blood pressure,” Cuaron continued. “Ozempic and Steglatro are set to launch in the US in 2018, and are expected to gain a significant share of the huge type 2 diabetes market.”

Even though there are many drugs currently available for type 2 diabetes, many key opinion leaders, interviewed by GlobalData, agreed that additional treatments are still required to help in the management of the chronic disease. Further, there was agreement by these leaders that a continued influx of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors represent promising additions to existing treatments for the disease due to the glycaemic and non-glycaemic benefits they offer.

Up and coming GLP-1 receptor agonist and SGLT-2 inhibitor contenders include Novo Nordisk’s NN9924 — an oral version of Ozempic — Sanofi’s sotagliflozin — a dual SGLT-1 and SGLT-2 inhibitor — and Theracos’ bexagliflozin — a novel SGLT-2 inhibitor.

Cuaron concluded: “As such, we believe the GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors will experience the fastest growth of any type 2 diabetes drug class.”