Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Type 2 Diabetes: Their Use and Differential Features

<div><p><b><i>Available in English, and as German and Spanish translations:</i></b></p><p><a href="https://adisjournals.figshare.com/articles/Glucagon-like-Peptid-1-Rezeptoragonisten_beim_Typ-2-Diabetes-mellitus_Ihre_Anwendung_und_Unterschiede/11788854"><b>German translation</b></a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://adisjournals.figshare.com/articles/Agonistas_del_receptor_del_p_ptido_similar_al_glucag_n_1_en_la_diabetes_tipo_2_uso_y_caracter_sticas_diferenciales/11788875"><b>Spanish translation</b></a></p><p><br></p><p>Compliance with ethical standards<br></p><p><b>Funding</b> The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding. </p><p>The translated versions of the article were made possible thanks to an independent educational grant from Novo Nordisk A/S.<br></p><p></p><p><b>Conflicts of interest</b><b><i> </i></b>K.A. Lyseng-Williamson is an employee of Adis International/Springer Nature, is responsible for the article content and declares no conflicts of interest.</p><p><br></p><p>Additional information about this Adis Drug Review can be found <a href="http://www.springer.com/gp/adis/products-services/adis-journals-newsletters/adis-drug-reviews"><b>here</b></a></p><p><br></p></div><div>Abstract<br></div><div>Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are well established as effective adjuncts to lifestyle modification in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) as monotherapy or in combination with oral glucose-lowering drugs ± insulin. The six subcutaneous GLP-1RA formulations (i.e. twice-daily exenatide, once-daily liraglutide and lixisenatide, and once-weekly dulaglutide, exenatide and semaglutide) currently available in the EU and USA have many similarities, but also some unique features and properties. By stimulating GLP-1 receptors, GLP-1RAs increase insulin secretion and suppress glucagon release in a glucose-dependent manner, thereby improving clinical and patient-reported outcomes related to glycaemic control and weight. They also have been shown to reduce, or at least not increase, the risk of major cardiovascular outcomes. GLP-1RAs are generally well tolerated, with gastrointestinal and injection-site reactions being the most troublesome drug-related adverse events, and are associated with a very low intrinsic risk of hypoglycaemia. Treatment with GLP-1RAs should be customized to meet the clinical needs and personal preferences of the individual.</div><div><br></div><div><b>©</b> Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019<br></div>