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As the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), oral semaglutide (sema) may facilitate increased access to the benefits of GLP-1RA therapy in broader care settings. Understanding the management of GLP-1RA therapy when intolerability occurs, including gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (AEs), is important to overcome potential barriers to treatment persistence. The PIONEER 6 trial (NCT02692716; N=3183) examined the efficacy and safety of oral sema in patients (pts) with T2D either ≥50 years with established cardiovascular (CV) or kidney disease, or ≥60 years with CV risk factors. In total, 27% of pts stopped taking oral sema at least once during the trial due to an AE, but only 12% permanently discontinued due to an AE. We thus evaluated medication management strategies within PIONEER 6 to assess their role in supporting treatment continuation. Pts on oral sema underwent dose escalation starting at 3 mg, increasing to 7 mg after 4 weeks, and 14 mg after 8 weeks. Investigators were permitted to reduce the dose if AEs developed and to re-escalate the dose once symptoms had resolved or diminished. Pts were educated as needed to address GI tolerability issues throughout the trial. Pts who discontinued treatment because of an AE were encouraged to resume treatment once willing or once the AE had ceased. The time off oral sema was considered a treatment pause. If treatment pauses were >21 days, re-escalation from a lower dose was recommended to mitigate GI AEs. Discontinuation of oral sema (temporary and permanent) mostly occurred during the initial dose escalation period. In total, 23% of pts receiving oral sema had ≥1 treatment pause, the majority of whom (72%) had just one pause. The median duration of treatment pause was 21 (IQR 7-51) days. Importantly, 75% of pts restarted oral sema after the first AE-related treatment discontinuation. These data highlight the role of treatment pauses, flexibility, and education in mitigating potential AEs to support treatment persistence on GLP-1RAs. Disclosure V. R. Aroda: Consultant; Self; Applied Therapeutics, Duke, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Employee; Spouse/Partner; Janssen, Merck, Research Support; Self; Applied Therapeutics, Eli Lilly and Company, Fractyl, Medpace, Medpace, Novo Nordisk, Premier, Sanofi, Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Janssen, Merck. R. Bauer: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. A. L. Davies: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk. E. B. Kreiner: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S, Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. P. J. Lin: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk, Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Canada Inc., Sanofi. R. E. Pratley: Other Relationship; Self; Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Metavention, Monster Energy Company, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Poxel SA, Sanofi, Scohia Pharma Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. S. C. Bain: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Lilly Diabetes, Napp Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Consultant; Self; ADOCIA, Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Bayer AG, Medscape, WebMD LLC. Funding Novo Nordisk A/S

The global PIONEER program investigated the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. Patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to once-daily oral semaglutide (3, 7 or 14 mg, or flexibly dosed [flex]), placebo, or active comparator (empagliflozin 25 mg, sitagliptin 100 mg or liraglutide 1.8 mg). This exploratory subgroup analysis evaluated the effect of race on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body weight (BW) reductions at the end of treatment (week 26, 52 or 78). Data were analyzed from PIONEER 1-5, 7 and 8 by race (White, Asian, Black/African American). Baseline characteristics were generally similar across subgroups except for BW, which was lower in Asian patients. Generally, greater HbA1c reductions were observed with oral semaglutide 14 mg/flex vs. comparators across subgroups (Table). In PIONEER 1, 4 and 8, there was a significant interaction between treatment and race, with greater HbA1c reductions and estimated treatment differences in Asian patients than in other subgroups (Table). Overall, BW reductions were greater for oral semaglutide vs. comparators, regardless of subgroup and without significant interactions between treatment and race. Our findings in this exploratory subgroup analysis suggest that, in some PIONEER trials, Asian patients achieve greater HbA1c reductions than other race groups when treated with oral semaglutide. Disclosure C. Desouza: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novo Nordisk A/S. A. Amod: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier. Consultant; Self; Servier. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier. K. Kallenbach: None. P.J. Lin: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bausch + Lomb, Bayer Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Other Relationship; Self; Elsevier. M. Abildlund Nielsen: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Novo Nordisk A/S. R. Sørrig: Employee; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. E. Montanya: Advisory Panel; Self; Sanofi. Consultant; Self; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Employee; Spouse/Partner; Almirall. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S. Funding Novo Nordisk A/S

Background: Despite recent recommendations for the use of glucose-lowering therapies with additional cardiovascular (CV) and renal benefits, as demonstrated through CV outcomes trials (CVOTs), many patients (pts) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) managed in primary care remain on therapeutic regimens now considered suboptimal. This global survey of primary care physicians (PCPs) investigated current approaches to early CV and renal risk management of pts with T2D. Methods: This web-based, global, quantitative panel survey of PCPs and primary care diabetes specialists (PCDSs) constituted 20 demographic, Likert scale, and multiple-choice questions covering the current management of pts with T2D, particularly the use of second/third line therapies (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors). Results: Globally, 1558 PCPs and 119 PCDSs from 18 countries completed the survey. Respondents saw a mean 132 pts with T2D per month and had treated pts with T2D for 17 years. Overall, 73% of PCPs and 72% of PCDSs were responsible for second/third line treatment initiation. The biggest barrier to second/third line treatment initiation identified by respondents was local healthcare systems/insurance companies restricting access to these therapies. Concerns over safety, pt disinterest, and difficulties in maintaining regular appointments were also identified as significant contributors to treatment inertia. Only 68% of PCPs and 52% of PCDSs were aware of data published from recent CVOTs, while 68% and 58%, respectively, stated they had changed their treatment decisions based on these trials. Conclusions: Significant barriers still prevent optimization of T2D pt care in the primary setting, including limited familiarity of PCPs and PCDSs with new CVOT data, treatment inertia, and access restrictions for second/third line treatments. Disclosure S. Brunton: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, Bayer U.S., Merck & Co., Inc., Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Lilly Diabetes. Other Relationship; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc. F. Cos: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. G.F. Deed: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Lilly Diabetes. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Lilly Diabetes, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi-Aventis. N. Kanumilli: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis AG, Novo Nordisk A/S. Consultant; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Sanofi-Aventis. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Napp Pharmaceuticals. P.R. Kushner: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer U.S., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. P.J. Lin: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bausch + Lomb, Bayer Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., Eli Lilly and Company, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Other Relationship; Self; Elsevier. J. Nolte: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca. Funding AstraZeneca

Aim To explore reasons behind treatment inertia in current approaches to early cardiorenal risk management in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods A global, web-based, quantitative panel survey of primary care physicians (PCPs) and primary care diabetes specialists treating people living with T2D. The questions covered current management of T2D, particularly the use of sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors as second-/third-line therapies. Results Of 1677 respondents from 18 countries who completed the survey, 73.4% were responsible for second-/third-line therapy initiation. Two thirds had modified treatment decisions based on recent cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs). Respondents cited restricted access to therapies and limits on regular appointments as the greatest barriers to second-/third-line therapy prescription. Although 81.6% agreed that early intensification to second-/third-line therapies is associated with clinical benefits, 46.1% of respondents still reserve these for later lines of therapy, and 23.8% would not consider changing therapeutic approach in patients with well-controlled T2D but increasing cardiovascular risk. Conclusions Substantial barriers still prevent optimization of primary setting T2D patient care. Education programs which enable PCPs to translate CVOT evidence into clinical benefits for patients with T2D could address many of the remaining knowledge gaps identified.