The results show many people start dropping the medication by the first year of using it.
The industry hails GLP-1s as a breakthrough in weight-loss medication. The available data shows that these medications are effective at helping many people reduce their body fat, primarily through appetite reduction. As a result, there is an increase in the number of patients reporting a healthy change in their general health.
However, there are concerns that people using these medications may not be pairing them with other healthy lifestyle changes. There are also concerns about the impact of going off the medication. As these drugs are still fairly new in the weight-loss space, there’s still uncertainty surrounding the lasting impact.
A new study looked into how long people stayed on these drugs and how the rate of persistence changed over time.1 Data like this is important because it determines whether these drugs should be looked at as a permanent aspect of a patient’s lifestyle or something that kickstarts a weight-loss phase.
Prime Therapeutics released the results of a real-world research project on how long people stayed on GLP-1s. According to the data, only about one-in-12 people stay on the drug past three years.
In a press release, Prime Therapeutics’ assistant vice president of health outcomes Pat Fleason, PharmD, said, “As we thoroughly collate and evaluate three years of studying GLP-1 obesity drug trends among real-world populations, new patterns are emerging that help us understand how these drugs are being used and how external factors may be impacting persistence and health outcomes. Consistent and significant real-world research is critical as GLP-1 drugs are a considerable driver of cost and utilization for our clients and employer groups."
The data was collected from 2021 to 2024, and it’s important to note that users faced drug shortages during the earlier years of study that could have impacted the results. By 2024, the supplies had started to normalize, and the number of people staying on the drug for longer periods did increase by that point.
In the same press release, Prime Therapeutics’ vice president and medical director Marci Chodroff, MD, said, “Care management is essential for those taking GLP-1 drugs, and when providers and prescribers have access to real-world data, they're better informed to manage drug dosages, monitor for potential adverse effects and help with other areas, such as diet and exercise coaching. Programs like KeepWell are so important in the GLP-1 space––they focus on providing comprehensive, science-based, patient-centered care."
The study showed that by 2024:
This is Prime Therapeutics’ latest research into GLP-1s and the long term impact of taking the medication. In October of last year, the company announced the results of a study that showed that patients taking GLP-1s for weight-loss spent more than $4,000 more than non-weight loss GLP-1 users during their second year taking the medication.2
In a press release issued at the time, Prime Therapeutics’ senior vice president of specialty and clincal solutions Steve Cutts said, “Prime's second-year study on the real-world impact of GLP-1 drugs for obesity showed both low adherence and increased costs of care. This research helps clients and members make informed decisions to improve health outcomes. We are committed to serve as a trusted source for both health care providers and peers in managed care pharmacy to bring clarity to complex health care conditions and topics, like GLP-1s."
