GLP-1 Adherence: 8% Stay on Treatment After 3 Years – Study
- A recent study indicates that long-term adherence to GLP-1 medications for obesity remains low.
- The study, published June 25, analyzed data from 174,519 commercially insured adults without diabetes who initiated GLP-1 therapy between January 2021 and March 2022.
- While overall persistence remained low, some GLP-1 drugs showed better results.
the latest study reveals a concerning trend: long-term adherence to GLP-1 medications for obesity is low, with only about 8% of patients remaining on treatment after three years. Wegovy shows the highest persistence at 14.3%, while Victoza lags at 2.5%. This analysis,from prime Therapeutics,looked at data from over 174,000 adults. During the three-year period, nearly 40% of patients switched GLP-1 drugs. Good news: one-year persistence rates improved to 62.7% for Wegovy in 2024.news directory 3 delves into this vital insight, exploring factors influencing adherence. Discover whatS next …
Low Adherence Persists Long-Term for GLP-1 Obesity Drugs
Updated June 26, 2025
A recent study indicates that long-term adherence to GLP-1 medications for obesity remains low. prime Therapeutics, which manages pharmacy benefits for 73 million people through 19 Blue cross and Blue Shield plans, found that only about 1 in 12 patients prescribed GLP-1s were still taking them after three years.
The study, published June 25, analyzed data from 174,519 commercially insured adults without diabetes who initiated GLP-1 therapy between January 2021 and March 2022. Researchers measured adherence by assessing the proportion of days covered, setting a threshold of 80% for defining adherence. Persistence was resolute by identifying gaps of 60 days or more without a prescription refill during the three-year period.
While overall persistence remained low, some GLP-1 drugs showed better results. Weekly Wegovy users had the highest persistence rates at 14.3%, while daily Victoza users had the lowest at 2.5%. Over the three years, 37.5% of members switched GLP-1 drugs, and 12.5% maintained regular medication use for at least 80% of the time.
One-year persistence rates showed advancement, with Wegovy and Zepbound demonstrating rates of 62.7% and 62.6%, respectively, in 2024. The increase in Wegovy persistence from 33.2% in 2021 to 62.7% in 2024 was attributed to resolving supply chain issues. Other factors potentially contributing to this improvement include better dose escalation, side-effect management, and extensive care and lifestyle management programs.
What’s next
Further research is needed to understand the factors influencing long-term adherence to GLP-1 medications for obesity and to develop strategies for improving patient outcomes.