Future Endocrine Therapeutics in Southeast Asia: From Super Mono, Dual to Triple Incretin Agonists and Beyond

Siew Hui FooMalaysia Speaker Future Endocrine Therapeutics in Southeast Asia: From Super Mono, Dual to Triple Incretin Agonists and BeyondThe role of incretin-based therapy is taking the front seat globally due to the high prevalence of obesity, diabetes and related complications worldwide. Similar scene is expected to take place in South East Asia that is facing the escalating burden of obesity driving up the already high burden of type 2 diabetes especially in the younger population despite consisting of relatively small countries in areas and population. This poses adverse socio-economic impact to the region due to increased risk of premature complications and death among the young in a region that is largely still developing. The arrival of incretin-based therapy into South East Asia since the first daily glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) injection in 2010 has picked up its pace in the last 5 years with the entry of weekly GLP-1 RA injection, oral GLP-1 RA and GLP-1 RA / GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) injection. This lecture will address the evidence behind its efficacy, tolerability as well as cardiovascular effects of these agents in the Asian populations. The future shift to the more potent high-dose GLP-1 receptor mono-agonist, dual, triple incretin receptor multi-agonist and beyond as these agents are approved for treatment for the twin epidemics of type 2 diabetes, obesity and related complications will be discussed along with the challenges especially on unequitable access, healthcare disparities, unregulated dispensing and the importance of a strengthened health system with multi-sectoral cooperation at the regional level to mitigate these issues.