New Analysis Reveals High Adherence Rates for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Compared to Other Obesity Medications
In a recent analysis of medical records and insurance claims data, it has been discovered that patients who were prescribed Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy for obesity in 2021 or 2022 had a significantly higher adherence rate compared to older medications. The study found that 40% of patients were still taking Wegovy a year later, which is three times the adherence rate of other medicines.
Contrastingly, only 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 their prescriptions a year later. These findings highlight the superior adherence rates of Wegovy among patients.
The study included 1,911 adults, with 25% of them receiving Wegovy, a GLP-1 agonist initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 drugs not only regulate blood sugar but also suppress appetite and promote a feeling of fullness, contributing to their potential effectiveness in combating obesity.
Among the study participants, 75% were female, with 76% identifying as white, 16% as Black, and 4.5% as Hispanic. Most of the participants had private insurance. Researchers also noted that greater weight loss at six months was associated with higher adherence rates at one year, indicating the positive impact of Wegovy on sustained weight loss efforts.
While the study did not specify why patients discontinued the medication, it did highlight that adherence rates varied among privately insured individuals, possibly due to insurance coverage limitations and pre-certification criteria.
A separate data analysis conducted by pharmacy benefits manager Prime Therapeutics found that only around a third of people with commercial health plans, who were prescribed GLP-1 drugs in 2021, were still taking them a year later. This further emphasizes the notable adherence rates of Wegovy.
Wegovy, which received approval for obesity treatment in June 2021, demonstrated remarkable weight reduction of approximately 15% in a pivotal clinical trial and has gained significant popularity. However, it is worth noting that around 6.8% of patients in clinical trials discontinued Wegovy due to side effects and adverse events.
The high cost of novel anti-obesity medications and the issue of non-persistence among patients are emerging concerns that could potentially impact coverage decisions made by third-party payers. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand the barriers to the continued use of obesity treatments in clinical practice.
Overall, the analysis reveals the impressive adherence rates of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy in comparison to other obesity medications, underscoring its potential as an effective long-term solution in the battle against obesity.
