Higher Satisfaction with Once-Weekly Insulin Icodec Compared to Daily Doses in Type 2 Diabetes: ONWARDS Trials

“These findings indicate a higher level of treatment satisfaction and a clear preference for once-weekly insulin over the traditional once-daily basal insulin. The convenience of this regimen, along with patients’ willingness to continue and recommend once-weekly treatment, was notably emphasized,” the researchers wrote in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.

The study, which included patient-reported outcomes from ONWARDS 2 and 5, and physician surveys from ONWARDS 1, focused on the experiences of patients switching to insulin icodec. The ONWARDS phase 3a clinical trials compared the efficacy of once-weekly insulin icodec with once-daily basal insulin in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The analysis by William Polonsky, Behavioral Diabetes Institute, San Diego, CA, USA, and colleagues investigated the treatment-related experiences of participants from ONWARDS 5 and 2, and physicians from ONWARDS 1.

For this purpose, the researchers collected patient-reported outcomes exclusively during ONWARDS 5, which compared insulin icodec with a dosing guide app against once-daily basal analogs, and ONWARDS 2, which examined icodec versus once-daily insulin degludec. Additionally, treatment preferences and satisfaction from physicians participating in ONWARDS 1, where icodec was compared to once-daily insulin glargine U100, were gathered through an online survey.

The following were the key findings of the study:

• In the ONWARDS 5 and 2 trials, there was a statistically significant increase in overall treatment satisfaction from baseline to the end of treatment for participants using insulin icodec or icodec with an app compared to those on once-daily alternatives. This boost in satisfaction is largely attributed to participants’ willingness to continue and recommend the treatment.
• In ONWARDS 2, an impressive 93.7% of users preferred the once-weekly regimen over the daily injections, primarily due to the convenience of fewer injections and greater ease of use.
• Physicians involved in ONWARDS 1 expressed higher satisfaction with the once-weekly insulin regimen than with once-daily basal insulin, and they were more inclined to recommend the weekly injections.

The findings from insulin-naive and insulin-experienced participants with type 2 diabetes in the ONWARDS 5 and ONWARDS 2 trials, along with feedback from physicians in ONWARDS 1, reveal significant improvements in treatment satisfaction. Participants showed a strong preference for once-weekly basal insulin, leading to better adherence to treatment.

“These results highlight the potential for personalized approaches in diabetes care, making once-weekly insulin a viable option for individuals with type 2 diabetes,” the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Polonsky, W., Benamar, M., Carstensen, L., Davies, M., Meller Donatsky, A., Franek, E., Kellerer, M., Philis-Tsimikas, A., & Goldenberg, R. (2024). Improved treatment satisfaction with once-weekly insulin icodec compared with once-daily basal insulin in individuals with type 2 diabetes: An analysis of patient-reported outcomes and participant interviews from ONWARDS 2 and 5 and a physician survey from ONWARDS 1. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 217, 111885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111885