An analysis of U.S. pharmacy claims data reveals that only one in four patients prescribed Novo Nordisk A/S’s NVO weight-loss drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, continue their treatment after two years.
The data provided to Reuters highlights a significant decline in long-term adherence to these medications.
The analysis, conducted by Prime Therapeutics and Magellan Rx Management, offers a longer view of real-world usage compared to previous research, according to the exclusive Reuters report.
Also Read: Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro Outpaces Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic In Weight Loss Effectiveness, Study Shows.
Prime Therapeutics and Magellan Rx Management reviewed pharmacy and medical claims data for 3,364 patients with commercial health plans that cover GLP-1 drugs.
The study focused on patients who received new prescriptions between January and December 2021 and had a diagnosis of obesity or a BMI of 30 or higher.
The analysis excluded those using the drugs for type 2 diabetes and found that only 15% of patients continued their medication after two years. The mean age of patients was 46.5 years, and 81% were female.
For Wegovy, 24.1% of patients continued their therapy for two years without a gap of 60 days or more, compared to 36% who persisted for one year.
Similarly, 22.2% of Ozempic users maintained their treatment for two years, down from 47.1% at the one-year mark. Older GLP-1 drugs, such as Saxenda, showed even lower adherence rates, with only 7.4% of patients continuing their treatment after two years.
The study also found that 26% of patients switched GLP-1 drugs during their therapy, potentially due to shortages or changes in insurance coverage, the Reuters report added, citing Dr. Patrick Gleason, co-author of the analysis.
Despite the findings, Novo Nordisk noted several limitations in its response to Reuters, such as the timing of Wegovy’s launch and insurance coverage issues for Ozempic, which is not approved for weight loss.
Novo Nordisk contends that the data is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions about patient adherence and persistence with GLP-1 treatments.
Reuters adds that the company emphasizes the significant weight loss and additional health benefits observed in clinical trials, which may improve insurance coverage in the future.
Wegovy, for example, recently gained U.S. approval for reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks in overweight and obese adults.
Prime/MRx did not investigate why patients discontinued their prescriptions, though factors such as side effects, out-of-pocket costs, and supply shortages likely played a role.
Some patients might stop medication after achieving their weight loss goals, but other studies indicate that most who quit GLP-1 drugs tend to regain the lost weight.
The analysis didn’t track the long-term use of Eli Lilly And Co’s LLY Mounjaro and Zepbound, which launched after the study’s starting point.
Price Action: NVO shares are up 0.94% at $144.75 at the last check on Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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