Study Summary: Comparing GLP-1 agonists for weight management

Since the FDA approval of Wegovy in 2021 for chronic weight management, prescriptions of GLP-1 agonists have skyrocketed. While clinical trials demonstrate that GLP-1 agonists are effective in reducing weight compared to placebo, research using real-world data to compare GLP-1 agonists is needed to evaluate their differences in clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost to guide health plans’ formulary placement, coverage decisions, and patient support programs.

Evio conducted one of the first real-world evidence studies comparing clinical outcomes, safety, total cost of care, and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) differences among four of the most common GLP-1 agonists when used for weight management in patients without diabetes.

Evio’s study found:

• Across GLP-1 agonists, a single medication had the worst range of clinical outcomes, with a higher incidence of biliary disease, more progression to bariatric surgery, and the lowest adherence and persistence rates

• CV events did not differ among the GLP-1 agonists studied

• Total cost of care was driven by the cost differences between the medications themselves, not hospitalizations or other HCRU

In addition to educating patients and providers about study findings, Evio recommends that health plans consider evaluating their benefit design based on study results – while still considering all existing research conducted to date.

If health plans implement Evio’s recommendations, they could realize annual savings of $14.2M per 1M lives and patients could experience improved health outcomes and total cost of care reductions.  

If you are a health plan interested in learning more about our analysis, please reach out to us!

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