Popular Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Show Gap Between Clinical Trial Promises And Real-World Use, Study Reveals

The demand for GLP-1 agonists, including Novo Nordisk A/S’s NVO Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide), a class of drugs used to manage diabetes and obesity, continues to grow.

Though initially developed for type 2 diabetes, GLP-1s have gained attention for their effectiveness in weight management. The FDA approval expanded use for cardiovascular indication for Wegovy and potential future applications for chronic kidney disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) further underscores the promise of these treatments.

The Forbes report adds that real-world evidence shows that weight loss from GLP-1 usage may not align with the outcomes seen in clinical trials.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed that patients, on average, achieved only a 3.7% weight reduction after one year on the drugs—lower than the results reported in controlled trials.

Also Read: Novo Nordisk CEO To Face Senate Scrutiny Over High Ozempic And Wegovy Prices, Hearing Scheduled On Tuesday.

While patients have high expectations for substantial weight loss, the findings suggest that most individuals did not experience the same degree of benefit as seen in clinical settings.

However, those who persisted with GLP-1 therapy saw results comparable to those in clinical trials.

In another study published in 2023, researchers observed a modest average weight loss of 2.2% over 72 weeks among type 2 diabetes patients on GLP-1s.

Additionally, a pre-print analysis this year found that the real-world effectiveness of GLP-1s was less pronounced than in randomized controlled trials.

This difference underscores the challenge of replicating clinical trial success in everyday medical settings, where factors like medication adherence and real-life conditions are involved.

Persistence with GLP-1 medications is a significant issue. Forbes reported that only 15% of patients who started GLP-1 drugs for weight loss remained on them after two years, citing Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefit manager.

Discontinuation rates were high, with just 29% continuing treatment after one year and a mere 15% after two years.

Other studies, including findings from Blue Cross Blue Shield, show that many patients stop GLP-1 therapy early, often within the first month, before achieving meaningful weight loss.

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