Majority of Patients Quit Weight-Loss Drugs Like Wegovy Within First Year

A recent cost analysis shared with Reuters showed that only a third of patients continued to use popular glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) compounds a year after initial prescription. Healthcare costs were also 59% higher for patients taking drugs like Wegovy or Ozempic compared to those who were not prescribed the medication.

Analysts who compiled the research implied that patients likely discontinued use because of copay and deductible unaffordability or the harsh side effect sometimes associated with the drug. The analysis suggests that GLP-1 medications may be effective for a smaller population than originally thought and that millions of dollars could be wasted on treating those who won’t tolerate long-term drug adherence.

In clinical trials of Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 medication, only 6.8% of patients discontinued use due to side effects or adverse events. However, findings from the Reuters study indicate that actual drug adherence is substantially lower. For GLP-1 products like Wegovy or Ozempic to induce and retain effective weight loss, they should be taken for a prolonged duration; accordingly, short-term use is essentially a waste of money.

Novo Nordisk didn’t comment on the analysis but said that “broadening coverage” was essential to increasing access and affordability of its obesity drugs.

A 2022 clinical trial of semaglutide, the generic name for Wegovy, found that patients who discontinued use often regained a majority of the weight that was initially lost. The study observed a 68-week treatment protocol and found that at a 120-week follow-up, patients regained 11.6% of the 17.3% of body weight that was lost during the treatment window.

The study was funded by Novo Nordisk and concluded that the chronicity of obesity requires ongoing treatment to maintain weight and health. In other words, Novo suggests that patients may need to take GLP-1 products indefinitely.

As the GLP-1 medications explode in popularity, researchers have begun to consider them for other purposes. One study published in May of this year found that semaglutide could reduce alcohol intake in mice. This is accompanied by anecdotal evidence that GLP-1 medications helped patients manage obsessive tendencies involving nicotine, alcohol, shopping, and other addictive substances.

Recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) initiated an investigation of Ozempic after Iceland’s Health regulator found multiple cases of patients experiencing suicidal ideation after taking the drug. In the United States, the drug already comes with prescribing instructions that suggest patients should be monitored for suicidal thoughts or behavior.