Only one in 12 remain on a GLP-1 drug for obesity at three years

Only 8% of individuals (or one in 12) initiating a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist drug for obesity without diabetes continued to do so at three years, according to the latest real-world research from Prime Therapeutics (Prime). Meanwhile, individuals who took a high-potency GLP-1 drug approved for obesity - such as semaglutide - had greater persistence at 14% three years after initiating therapy.

Obesity Treatment GLP-1 Agonists: Kaplan-Meier Three-Year Therapy Persistence  (N = 5,780). The Kaplan-Meier curve represents 5,780 obese commercially insured adults without diabetes, initiating a GLP-1 product between January 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

While overall persistence continues to decrease among those taking high-potency GLP-1 products after three years, persistence among those taking the drugs over a one-year period improved throughout the span of the study. For those initiating GLP-1 therapy in 2021, 33% were persistent, while in the first quarter of 2024, 63% of new initiators were persistent. This increase is believed to be largely attributed to resolving GLP-1 drug shortages in 2024.

"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," said Pat Gleason, PharmD, assistant vice president, health outcomes, at Prime. "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."

In addition to persistence and adherence insights, the Year-3 study found 38% of individuals switched GLP-1 products during the three years of study. The mean age of individuals within the same cohort is 47 years old and nearly 80% identified as female.

Prime will release findings of its research on cost-of-care implications for GLP-1 therapy for obesity at three years later this year. To view the abstract, ‘GLP-1 Therapy to Treat Obesity Among Members Without Diabetes: Three-Year Persistence and Year-Over-Year Persistence Rate Change', please click here