Data showed that people with type 2 diabetes using GLP-1s with FreeStyle Libre had a greater improvement in HbA1c compared to GLP-1s alone. Abbott presented the findings at the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) conference in Florence, Italy.
GLP-1 receptor agonists, like Ozempic and Wegovy, provide therapy for diabetes and weight loss. This therapeutic class, a glucagon-like peptide 1, has proven to lead to improved blood sugar control and weight loss. The drug class continues to grow in popularity with prescriptions for type 2 diabetes increasing.
Last year, BTIG analysts spoke with an expert, determining the potential impact of GLP-1s on the diabetes market. Not long after, Abbott shared real-world data highlighting GLP-1s as a potential accelerator for its FreeStyle Libre CGM product family.
Today, the company added more real-world data to back up the potential for the pairing of CGM with the drug class.
One study showed a significant improvement in HbA1C (-1.5%) at six months after adding FreeStyle Libre to their treatment. This study’s results came in irrespective of GLP-1 duration, GLP-1 type or insulin therapy type. The other study showed a greater HbA1C reduction when using GLP-1 and Libre together (-2.4%) compared to GLP-1 alone (-1.7%). This study looked at data from a cohort on GLP-1 only and those on GLP-1 and Libre therapies.
“The data analyses confirm that people using GLP-1 medicines to manage their diabetes can achieve even better results when using it together with FreeStyle Libre technology,” said Dr. Mahmood Kazemi, chief medical officer for Abbott’s diabetes care business. “This type of complementary relationship is not uncommon in diabetes care treatment. Similar to pairing with insulin therapy, FreeStyle Libre technology is a beneficial companion to GLP-1 therapy, providing the real-time data that people with diabetes can use to make positive behavior changes and navigate their GLP-1 usage safely.”
A look at the data presented by Abbott
The first study from Abbott used Optum’s de-identified Market Clarity Data. This linked EHR claims database included U.S. adults with type 2 diabetes and elevated HbA1C (greater than 8%). Their first FreeStyle Libre acquisition came between 2018 and 2022.
It required patients to start GLP-1 therapy before initiating Libre, with at least one GLP-1 prescription within 180 days of Libre start. The study cohort included 1,781 adults with type 2 diabetes. Abbott reported a 52% male population, with 38% coming with bolus insulin therapy and a mean of 499 days from GLP-1 initiation to Libre start.
The second study also used Optum’s data, including adults with type 2 diabetes and HbA1C greater than 8%. Subjects acquired their first GLP-1 between 2018 and 2022. GLP-1 and Libre subjects acquired their first sensor within 30 days of their first GLP-1 acquisition.
Abbott matched cohorts based on insulin therapy, age, sex, baseline HbA1c and GLP-1 type. The study compared paired change in HbA1c between matched groups at six months. In total, it included 24,246 adults in the GLP-1 only group and 478 adults in the GLP-1 and Libre group.
“GLP-1 medicines can be very effective in lowering HbA1C for people with Type 2 diabetes who require intensified treatment,” said Dr. Eden Miller, diabetologist and obesity medicine fellow at Diabetes and Obesity Care in Bend, Oregon. “While treating my patients, I’ve observed that when we’ve added a CGM, like the FreeStyle Libre technology, to their GLP-1 therapy, we see even better glycemic control. To maximize the benefits of GLP-1 medicines, it’s worth considering the combination of a CGM to support people who live with Type 2 diabetes.”
