Research shows that 85% of patients stop taking GLP-1 after 2 years due to obesity

Only 15% of patients prescribed GLP-1s for weight loss were still taking the drugs two years later, according to an analysis of pharmacy claims published July 10 by pharmacy benefits manager, Prime Therapeutics. A series of other recently published studies show that relatively high rates of patients drop out after just four weeks of treatment and that discontinuation increases over time. Evidence that many people may stop taking anti-obesity medications not long after starting therapy casts doubt on the sustainability of weight loss to achieve positive long-term health outcomes.

There is a high demand for anti-obesity drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, or GLP-1s. When combined with an appropriate diet and exercise regimen, GLP-1s can provide significant health benefits to patients. These are not limited to weight loss. GLP-1s have been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes for almost two decades. And a GLP-1 called Wegovy achieved a additional cardiovascular indication from the Food and Drug Administration this spring.

The drugs are also being investigated in the late stages of clinical development chronic kidney disease And non-alcoholic fatty liver diseasewhere they have shown promise.

However, to achieve these health benefits, it is critical that people prescribed GLP-1s continue taking them at least long enough to achieve clinical success, and preferably longer to prevent possible weight gain once they stop taking the drugs .

The PBM Prime Therapeutics has installed a new one analysis on July 10 showing that only about 15% of individuals who started taking GLP-1 weight loss medications were still sticking with it after two years.

Endpoints news reports that the PBM conducted an insurance claims analysis of 3,364 obese patients (body mass index greater than 30) who had begun taking a GLP-1 in 2021 and were continuously enrolled with a commercial insurer. Patients with diabetes were excluded from the study.

Only 47% of patients were still using GLP-1 after 180 days; 29% in one year; and 15% after two years.

The drugs included in the study were Victoza (liraglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), Ozempic (semaglutide), and Wegovy (semaglutide). Saxenda and Wegovy have weight loss indications approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Victoza and Ozempic are FDA-approved for diabetes and can be prescribed off-label for obesity.

Patients taking Ozempic and Wegovy – injected once a week – were more persistent than those on Victoza and Saxenda. About 24% who took Wegovy were still taking the drug after two years and 22% continued to use Ozempic.

Only 7% of patients prescribed Victoza and Saxenda – injected once a day – used them after two years.

The Prime Therapeutics study did not address the reasons why patients stopped taking the medications. These can range from side effects to supply shortages. Patients may also have reached their weight goal.

However, a separate study published last month by The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association found that 58% of patients discontinue use before achieving a clinically meaningful level of weight loss. Striking: more than 30% of patients stopped treatment after the first month.

Also a peer-reviewed study published by the research journal earlier this year Obesity indicates that only 40% of obese patients using semaglutide-based GLP-1 products were persistent after one year. And another referenced study issued earlier this year by the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy revealed that 72% of individuals who started taking GLP-1s for obesity stopped taking them after one year.

These findings pose a challenge for insurers and employers deciding whether to cover the drugs. If patients discontinue therapy, it can lead to weight loss and ultimately waste of resources not only for the patient but also for the payer. Wegovy and similar medications are listed for more than $1,000 per month, NBC News notesand may require extended use to provide meaningful benefits.

A recent one questionnaire A survey conducted in late May of this year found that only 34% of employer health plans in the United States offer coverage for GLP-1 medications for both diabetes management and weight loss.

The lead author of the latest study – Patrick Gleason, Assistant Vice President, Health Outcomes at Prime Therapeutics – said in an interview with Endpoint news that real-world data underscore the need for health plans to ensure patients receive comprehensive care, such as case and disease management programs aimed at behavior change.

Novo Nordisk, which is including the drugs in the claims analysis, said in a statement, citing limitations in the study reported Through Reuters that she “does not believe these data are sufficient to draw conclusions about overall patient compliance and persistence with various GLP-1 medications, including our treatments.”

Nevertheless, the problem of patient lack of persistence in using GLP-1s under real-world conditions, researched and published by a growing number of sources, does not disappear. It will need to be addressed comprehensively by multiple stakeholders to increase the chances of achieving sustainable positive health outcomes for people trying to lose weight.