FILE – Drugs often known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, together with Ozempic, can be utilized successfully for … [+]
Solely 15% of sufferers prescribed GLP-1s for weight reduction had been nonetheless taking the drugs two years later, in keeping with an evaluation of pharmacy claims posted on July tenth by the pharmacy profit supervisor, Prime Therapeutics. A flurry of different research revealed not too long ago present comparatively excessive percentages of sufferers dropping out as early as 4 weeks into therapy and that discontinuation will increase over time. Proof that many individuals could cease their use of weight problems medicine not lengthy after beginning remedy casts doubt concerning the sustainability of weight reduction to realize long-term optimistic well being outcomes.
There may be excessive demand for weight problems drugs often known as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, or GLP-1s. Together with an acceptable weight loss program and train routine, GLP-1s can present substantial well being advantages to sufferers. These aren’t confined to weight reduction. GLP-1s have been used for nearly 20 years within the therapy of Sort 2 diabetes. And a GLP-1 named Wegovy secured a supplemental cardiovascular indication from the Meals and Drug Administration this spring.
The drugs are additionally being studied in late phases of scientific improvement for chronic kidney disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the place they’ve proven promise.
To achieve these well being advantages, nevertheless, it’s essential that individuals prescribed GLP-1s proceed to take them not less than lengthy sufficient to comprehend scientific success, and ideally longer to keep away from potential weight rebound as soon as they arrive off the drugs.
The PBM Prime Therapeutics posted a brand new analysis on July tenth which exhibits that solely about 15% of people who started taking GLP-1 medicine for weight reduction persevered after two years.
Endpoints Information reports that the PBM performed an insurance coverage claims evaluation of three,364 overweight sufferers (physique mass index larger than 30) who had began taking a GLP-1 throughout 2021 and had been repeatedly enrolled with a business insurer. Sufferers with diabetes had been excluded from the examine.
Solely 47% of sufferers had been nonetheless taking a GLP-1 at 180 days; 29% at one 12 months; and 15% at two years.
The medicine included within the examine had been Victoza (liraglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy (semaglutide). Saxenda and Wegovy have weight reduction indications accredited by the Meals and Drug Administration. Victoza and Ozempic are FDA-approved for diabetes and will be prescribed off-label for weight problems.
Sufferers taking Ozempic and Wegovy—injected once-weekly—had been extra persistent than these on Victoza and Saxenda. About 24% utilizing Wegovy had been nonetheless on the drug on the two-year mark and 22% had been persevering with to take Ozempic.
Merely 7% of sufferers prescribed Victoza and Saxenda—injected once-daily—had been taking them after two years.
The Prime Therapeutics examine didn’t delve into the reason why sufferers give up the medicine. These can vary from unwanted effects to produce shortages. It is also that sufferers had met their weight purpose.
Nevertheless, in a separate examine posted by The Blue Cross Blue Defend Affiliation final month, 58% of sufferers discontinue use earlier than reaching a clinically significant stage of weight reduction. Notably, greater than 30% of patients dropped out of therapy after the primary month.
Additionally, a peer-reviewed examine revealed by earlier this 12 months by the analysis journal Weight problems indicates that solely 40% of overweight sufferers taking semaglutide-based GLP-1 merchandise had been persistent at one 12 months. And one other refereed examine released earlier this 12 months by the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy revealed that 72% of people who began on GLP-1s for weight problems had been not taking them after one 12 months.
These findings pose challenges for insurers and employers who make selections whether or not to cowl the medicine. If sufferers discontinue remedy, that may result in weight rebound and in the end a waste of assets, not just for the affected person but in addition the payer. Wegovy and related medicines are listed at greater than $1,000 monthly, NBC Information notes, and will require prolonged use to supply significant advantages.
A latest survey performed in late Might of this 12 months exhibits that simply 34% of United States employer well being plans supply protection of GLP-1 medicine for each diabetes administration and weight reduction.
The lead creator of the most recent examine—Patrick Gleason, Assistant Vice President, Well being Outcomes at Prime Therapeutics—stated in an interview with Endpoint Information that the real-world knowledge underscore the necessity for well being plans to make sure sufferers obtain complete care, comparable to case and illness administration applications geared toward habits modification.
Citing limitations within the examine, Novo Nordisk, which makes the medicine included within the claims evaluation, stated in a press release reported by Reuters that it “doesn’t imagine these knowledge are ample to attract conclusions about total affected person adherence and persistence to varied GLP-1 medicines, together with our remedies.”
Nonetheless, the issue of lack of affected person persistence on GLP-1s underneath real-world situations, examined and revealed by a rising variety of sources, isn’t going away. It must be addressed comprehensively by a number of stakeholders to be able to enhance the possibilities of reaching sustainable optimistic well being outcomes for individuals attempting to reduce weight.
