Obesity Drugs: Greater Weight Loss Linked to Prolonged Use of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy

A recent analysis of medical records and insurance claims data revealed that 40% of patients who received prescriptions for Novo Nordisk A/S's NVO obesity treatment drug Wegovy in 2021 or 2022 were still using it a year later. 

This significantly surpasses the adherence rates observed with older medications, demonstrating over three times the staying power compared to other treatments, as disclosed in a report published in the journal Obesity.

The study involved 1,911 adults, among whom 25% were using Wegovy. 

Individuals experiencing greater weight loss at six months tended to persist with the medication even after a year, the researchers found.

Also Read: Eli Lilly's Blockbuster Mounjaro Shows Larger, Faster Weight Loss Than Novo Nordisk's Ozempic In Real World Study.

Reuters noted that 13% of patients who started taking Contrave from Orexigen Therapeutics and 10% of those who started on Qsymia from Vivus between 2015 and 2022 were still filling prescriptions a year later.

However, the report did not outline the reasons patients discontinued the drugs. 

Researchers noted variations in adherence rates among privately insured individuals, attributing this variance to limitations in coverage and specific pre-certification criteria like step therapy implemented by different insurance carriers.

Dr. Hamlet Gasoyan, the study leader from the Cleveland Clinic, highlighted concerns about the high costs of new anti-obesity medications and their users' non-persistence, emphasizing that these factors might influence decisions regarding coverage by third-party payers. 

Price Action: NVO shares are down 0.94% at $98.69 on the last check Wednesday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.