Source: Fierce Healthcare
Spending on GLP-1 drugs continues to rise, after outpacing trends among specialty drugs for the first time in 2023, according to a new report from Evernorth.
Pharmaceutical spending overall has grown significantly in recent years, but it has accelerated since semaglutide earned approval for chronic weight management in 2021. Afterward, the rate of annual growth rose from 2.1% in 2021 to 12.8% in 2024, according to the report.
Specialty pharmacy has traditionally been the key source of growth in pharmacy spend. For comparison, in 2019, spending for traditional medications decreased by 5% while spending on specialty drugs grew by 11.5%.
In 2023, that changed, however, with spending on traditional products growing by 11.7% while specialty spend increased by 7.2%. The study covered data on 28 million people with commercial insurance.
The first GLP-1s secured approval as diabetes therapies in 2014, but uptake was slow given that they required daily injections and weight loss was limited. However, the weekly semaglutide options—sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy—have changed that paradigm dramatically.
The potential these drugs have to make a positive health impact is significant, given how common obesity and diabetes are in the U.S. However, that comes with trade-offs in cost and demand, the report said.
“As we embrace their promise, we must also confront one of the greatest healthcare conundrums of our time: how to ensure these treatments remain accessible to those who need them most while preventing financial strain on healthcare systems, employers and individuals,” Evernorth analysts wrote.
And, while patients are more comfortable and familiar with these drugs, the surge in use comes with unanswered questions about their impact in the long term. Evernorth’s study found that more than 50% of those who take GLP-1s stop doing so within 12 months, limiting the data available on the medications for longer periods.
Patients who discontinued their GLP-1s reported multiple reasons for doing so. Close to half (43.7%) said they were concerned about side effects and the safety of the medication, while 40.1% said they stopped taking the drugs by choice as they felt it was no longer necessary.
In addition, 30.9% cited financial concerns as a factor in discontinuing their GLP-1s, and 15.3% said they faced “adherence challenges.”
Just 13.1% said they stopped taking the drugs for provider-driven reasons, and 12.2% said they preferred other therapeutic options.
The study notes that pharmacists will be critical players moving forward as demand for GLP-1s remains high. They can offer critical guidance and education for consumers who receive these drugs on how to administer them appropriately and what side effects may look like.
The Evernorth team polled pharmacists as part of the study and found that 82% see it as their role to educate patients on safe administration for GLP-1s and on the medication’s side effects. Seventy-three percent said they can talk patients through how they may feel on the medications, and 66% said they can share additional information on how transport and store GLP-1s.
More than half, 58%, said they are also positioned well to provide details on potential drug interactions, and 49% said they are able to give the patient the first injection as a demonstration.
“While providers and plan sponsors emphasize the need for structured requirements to ensure effective use of GLP-1 therapies, pharmacists play a critical role in implementing these measures by supporting patients with education, safe use and adherence strategies,” the study said.
