Drugs are developed to treat diseases in individual patients—but real-world use often depends more on systems than symptoms.
For example, Medicaid Part D does not cover Wegovy® for weight loss, but started covering it to reduce cardiovascular risk in March of 2024. Together with Humbi.ai, we presented our initial results of an in-depth analysis of characteristics, treatment patterns and outcomes among Medicare FFS beneficiaries who used Wegovy® following this policy shift. These early adopters were typically older adults with existing cardiovascular risks, but were less likely than users of other GLP-1s to have diabetes. Over 95% continued this medication without switching during the study period, suggesting higher continuation rates than have been observed in studies of real-world semaglutide use for obesity.
When prescribing becomes more (or less) accessible, it doesn’t just affect cost but also who gets treated and for what indications. RWE is needed to understand how the real-world context, including policy shifts, provider practices, new populations, and care infrastructure shape real world use—and real-world impact.
Want to get a snapshot of a dynamic market landscape or contextualize trial results? Connect with our team to get a more complete picture, or explore or explore our other RWE services.