Prior to the release of Prime Therapeutics’ (Prime) latest cost-of-care data from its ongoing real-world research on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist drugs, Prime researchers presented findings from the Year-2 adherence and persistence study as a research poster and an education session at Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

I (Alex Cook, part of Prime’s newsroom team) connected with Ben Urick, PharmD,  senior director of health outcomes, and Landon Marshall, PharmD,  health outcomes research principal, who presented at the conference and serve as authors on the latest cost-of-care research to learn more about the studies and their experience at the conference.

Alex Cook: You two presented both a poster and an educational session during AMCP Nexus on our GLP-1 data. This also was the case at the AMCP Annual last spring. How do you prepare for each event?
Landon Marshall (LM): The poster presentation work starts six weeks prior to each AMCP meeting. In collaboration with our Creative team, all research posters go through multiple rounds of review, layout and copyediting. The Creative team at Prime does great work showcasing our research in a large poster format.
A key component of AMCP session preparation is staying up to date on the session topic. There are months between the initial session proposal submission and the actual session presentation, so it's important to keep the session material relevant leading up to the meeting. Also, we have established a process where session speakers can do an internal mock presentation prior to the actual AMCP meeting. The internal presentations have been a great avenue for feedback from coworkers prior to taking the stage at AMCP Annual or AMCP Nexus. 

I know that at the AMCP Annual presentation last spring, it was a standing-room-only session that garnered a lot of buzz. What was the reaction from your industry peers to your AMCP Nexus session?
Ben Urick (BU): The response was positive. Our presentation combined real-world evidence of GLP-1 use and impact on health care spending with a benefits consultant’s perspective on how that evidence informs employers’ coverage decisions. This was a well-rounded approach to provide a practical look at GLP-1 treatment for obesity. The audience was highly engaged, and we had a broad range of questions at the conclusion of our talk.

Your team works with a tremendous amount of data to develop this research. As you look at the data and analyze it, what surprises you most about our GLP-1 research so far?
LM: The overall increase in pharmacy spend surprises me the most. We are looking at a cohort of members with relatively low pharmacy spend prior to starting GLP-1 treatment for obesity. Following treatment initiation, the average annual member spend is more than double in Year 2.

Both of you are authors on our latest cost-of-care data, which looked at the same cohort of GLP-1 users for more than two years now. Looking ahead, what might be next for this research?
BU: The current work only included members with obesity without diabetes who initiated GLP-1 medications in 2021. We would like to expand this to include a longer index period, and we would also like to continue to explore the impact of GLP-1 treatment on a broader set of health outcomes. The current work only included members with obesity without diabetes who initiated GLP-1 medications in 2021. We would like to expand this to include a longer index period, and we would also like to continue to explore the impact of GLP-1 treatment on a broader set of health outcomes.

Looking back at AMCP Nexus, what was your biggest takeaway from the event, and what are you looking forward to at AMCP Annual next spring?
LM: I think we will remain focused on continued discussions around GLP-1 affordability and value. We aim to present clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness findings from our two-year extension in the spring. I’m looking forward to continuing the GLP-1 discussion and possibly sharing some insights as to what our research team may share at AMCP Nexus 2025 in National Harbor, Maryland.
BU: I would echo what Landon said, as payers are continuing to struggle with balancing GLP-1 affordability with the clinical benefit from these products. A longer follow-up period helps researchers to better understand the longer-term impact of GLP-1 treatment initiation, which helps payers when evaluating product value.

Learn more about our latest GLP-1 insights.