AJMC® in the Press, June 14, 2019

An article from The Pharma Letter on type 2 diabetes cited The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®)’s coverage of the 79th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. The article, “Analysis Shows Oral Semaglutide Beats Empagliflozin for Reducing Blood Sugar, Offers More Weight Loss Than Liraglutide,” covered phase 3 results that showed that the investigational type 2 diabetes drug oral semaglutide does a better job reducing blood sugar than empagliflozin, a leading sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor. The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist also produced more weight loss than liraglutide, the daily injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Healthline’s article on diabetic foot ulcers cited an article from an AJMC^® contributor that explored amputations as a direct result of the diabetic complication. The article, “Increasing Awareness This National Diabetes Month Can Save Limbs and Lives,” explained that 230 Americans with diabetes will have an amputation every day. Around the world, it’s estimated that a leg is amputated every 30 seconds, and 85% of those are a result of a diabetic foot ulcer.

Oak Tribune mentioned a 2016 AJMC^® supplement article in its article on macular edema. The article, “Overview of Diabetic Macular Edema,” gave a comprehensive look at the ophthalmic complication of diabetes. According to the article, the prevalence of diabetic macular edema is 45.3% among individuals with diabetes in North America.

The National Pharmaceutical Council’s Monday CER Daily Newsfeed included the AJMC^® article “Horizon and Aetion Partner to Optimize Treatment Pathways and Cut Healthcare Costs,” which covered Aetion’s announcement that it has partnered with Horizon Healthcare Services to identify high-risk patients and optimal treatment pathways as a means to achieve better health outcomes and cut healthcare costs. Wednesday’s newsfeed included an article in AJMC^®’s sister publication The American Journal of Accountable Care. The article, “Reducing Low-Value Care May Mean Tough Conversations With Stakeholders,” covered a panel discussion at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID)’s V-BID Summit, which explained that reducing low-value care can free up money to be spent on high-value services, but it’s a delicate conversation to have.