Patients receiving injectable GLP-1 therapy through NYU Langone Health Specialty Pharmacy had a 3.9% first-year discontinuation rate, according to research shared Sept. 25 in The American Journal of Managed Care.
Here are four things to know:
- Researchers evaluated 2,943 treatment-naive adults who started injectable liraglutide, semaglutide, dulaglutide or tirzepatide between August 2022 and May 2025. Patients received pharmacist onboarding on day 1, reassessments at months 1 and 6 and ongoing follow-up.
- Of the 2,943 patients, 115 discontinued therapy within the first year. Discontinuation rates were 1.8% for tirzepatide, 6.1% for semaglutide, 5.9% for dulaglutide and 25% for liraglutide. The liraglutide and dulaglutide groups included only 20 and 17 patients, respectively.
- A second analysis of 1,707 adults receiving semaglutide or tirzepatide for obesity through an integrated health system specialty pharmacy found a median of five days from prescription receipt to first dispense. Prior authorization was required for 95% of patients, and the median out-of-pocket cost was $24.98.
- Both analyses were retrospective, relied on data from a single organization and lacked a comparator group.
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
