Study finds high costs, few benefits associated with GLP-1 weight loss drugs

A new study from a pharmacy benefit manager is casting doubt on the benefits of GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss, finding they are associated with a high cost of care with little benefit beyond dropping pounds.

The study from Prime Therapeutics found that individuals who didn’t have diabetes that started a GLP-1 for obesity had an average $4,206 higher cost of care in their second year compared to those not taking one of the drugs. In addition, across obesity-related outcomes, no reduction in medical events was seen over two years.

The two most popular GLP-1s for obesity are Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) Zepbound (tirzepatide).

In addition, those taking GLP-1s not only didn’t see a medical cost offset from their treatment over two years but can instead expect a total cost of care of $11,200 at two years given standard drug prices, according to Prime.

Results also showed an increased risk of acute pancreatitis in the first year of therapy with one additional acute pancreatitis case per 250 GLP-1-treated individuals.

“While individuals experience weight loss from taking a GLP-1 drug, in our real-world analysis, no further health benefit is observable after two years, and in fact, they end up with a substantially higher cost of care than those who are not taking the drug,” Prime VP, Pharmacy Clinical Services, David Lassen said in a statement.

A Prime report released in July found that most GLP-1 users stop taking the drugs within two years.