[1/2]This photo illustration shows part of a Wegovy weight loss medicated injection pen. March 31, 2023, Chicago, Illinois, USA.Reuters/Jim Vondruska/Illustration/File Photo
July 11 (Reuters) – Only about a third of patients prescribed popular weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk’s (NOVOb.CO) Wegobee were still taking them after a year. On the other hand, there is a report that the group’s total medical expenses have increased sharply. An analysis of US pharmacy claims shared with Reuters.
The analysis showed an average annual cost of $12,371 for overall patient care before taking Wegovy or a similar drug. On average, his yearly costs after starting medication increased by 59% to $19,657.
A similar control group of patients not taking the drug had their costs reduced by 4% over the same period. The average age of patients included in the analysis was 47 years and 81% were female.
Medicines such as Wegovy can cost upwards of $1,000 a month, and improvements in health and the associated reduction in healthcare costs are unlikely to materialize anytime soon.
“This analysis suggests that large amounts of spending may be directed to people who are unlikely to see long-term health benefits,” said Christa Beig, a health policy researcher at Vanderbilt University in an interview with Reuters. It shows that there is,” he said.
“If we want to reach their full potential, we need to better target those who have access to them,” she said of obesity treatments.
Novo Nordisk did not comment on the analysis, but said in a statement that “obesity requires long-term management” and “to ensure that people who need[treatment]have access to medicines and can afford them.” “The key is to expand the scope of application.”
Shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company fell 2.3% on Tuesday.
An analysis by Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), examined pharmacy and medical claims data from 4,255 people with commercial health plans. They all received new prescriptions for a class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists between January and December 2021 and had been diagnosed with obesity, prediabetes, or a BMI of 30 or greater.
The GLP-1 drug, originally developed to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, suppresses appetite and promotes satiety.
The analysis excluded people with type 2 diabetes because Prime Therapeutics is focused on treating obesity.
Nearly half of the patients were prescribed Novo’s injectable Ozempic or Wegobee, both of which contain the active ingredient semaglutide. Others were taking Saxenda (liraglutide), an older Novo GLP drug, or Libersus, an oral version of semaglutide.
Overall, 32% of patients remained on the drug for weight loss one year after their initial prescription. All patients had insurance coverage for the GLP-1 drug, and there was no significant difference in outcome depending on which drug was prescribed, Prime said.
Patrick Gleason, Prime’s assistant vice president of health outcomes and co-author of the analysis, said this real-world data suggests a significant reduction in adherence compared to what was reported in clinical trials. said it does. In a trial in adults, Novo found that 6.8% of patients taking Wegovy discontinued treatment due to gastrointestinal upset or other adverse events.
“The vast majority of patients don’t understand the value of the product, which leads to waste, especially with expensive treatments,” Gleason said. I was a little surprised by the durability.
Prime Therapeutics is part of 19 Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance plans in the United States, managing pharmacy benefits for approximately 38 million people.
Prime did not ask the patient why the prescription was stopped. Gleason suggested a range of possibilities, including if patients find the side effects of nausea and vomiting too severe, or if they can’t afford to continue paying copays or deductibles.
Pharmaceutical companies and many doctors are calling for expanded insurance coverage for anti-obesity drugs. They argue that employers, insurers and PBMs may contribute to low compliance rates by imposing too many restrictions and high out-of-pocket costs.
David Lassen, chief clinical officer at Prime Therapeutics, said it would take two to three years to more accurately assess the economic and medical outcomes of patients taking GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity. I said I need yearly data. He said the majority of Prime’s commercial customers do not currently cover weight loss drugs.
“This data doesn’t help get them out of there,” Lassen said.
Reported by Chad Terhune.Editing: Michelle Gershberg and Bill Barclot
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