Robert Zimmerman, MD, discussed the adverse side effects associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) and multi-agonist therapies, as well as explored the challenges in developing these interventions.
Robert Zimmerman, MD, endocrinologist and director of the diabetes center in the department of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Cleveland Clinic, discussed the potential drawbacks of these interventions and the obstacles that providers and patients can encounter with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) inhibitors and multi-agonist therapies.
Zimmerman recently presented on GLP-1 and multi-agonist therapies that have been indicated for both diabetes and obesity during an Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event hosted in conjunction with Cleveland Clinic.
Transcript
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Can you discuss any potential drawbacks to GLP-1/multi-agonist interventions?
The major problems that people have associated with GLP-1 agonists are gastrointestinal side effects. They most commonly cause nausea, sometimes cramping, and sometimes diarrhea. And I would say that most of the time, if somebody is unable to tolerate the medication, it is either due to severe nausea or to severe abdominal cramping. And I would say that those are the major complications that we see with the GLP-1 agonist.
What are the challenges or considerations in developing multi-agonist therapies for clinical use?
There’s 2 major problems associated with these agents. In terms of the problems, one is that they're expensive. And so, many insurance companies make it difficult to utilize them and some of them don't have these agents on their formulary. And because they're expensive, it's very hard to be able to afford these agents if you don't have insurance that covers them.
And the other problem is they are so popular that many of the companies that are making the GLP-1 agonists, despite the cost, are having trouble keeping up with the demand. And so, it's not uncommon that we order a particular agent and we get back saying they don't have available that particular dose of the drug, or they don't have that drug available at all, asking if we can pick a different agent. And from a physician perspective, if you go through the whole process of trying to get one of them approved, and then you can't get it at the pharmacy, that's a problem. So those are really the major problems that we're having associated with the drugs.
Shelly Lanning on How Employers Can Reduce Costs by Bridging Gaps in Women's Health Care
May 3rd 2024In a presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health Women’s Health Summit, Shelly Lanning, cofounder and president of Visana Health, addressed the need for comprehensive approaches in women’s health care and their coverage options.
Read More
Tackling Health Inequality: The Power of Education and Experience
April 30th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our final episode of this limited series and our conversation with Janine Jelks-Seale, MSPPM, director of health equity at UPMC Health Plan.
Listen
Joanne Mizell: Lifestyle Modification Programs Take Holistic Aim at Metabolic Disease
May 1st 2024Joanne Mizell shares insurer strategies in addressing the escalating rates of metabolic diseases, highlighting the importance of holistic treatment methods like lifestyle modification programs, which integrate nutrition, physical activity, and community engagement.
Read More
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
OptumRx’s Jon Mahrt Discusses “Irresponsible” Drug Pricing for Products With Multiple Indications
April 30th 2024When the same product comes to market with additional indications, irrational pricing decisions result in ever increasing prices instead of volume translating to lower costs, said Jon Mahrt, MBA, of OptumRX.
Read More
T-Cell Exhaustion in CLL: Allogeneic CAR T Trial Reaching Patients With Unmet Need
April 30th 2024"Off the shelf" CAR T-cell therapies could offer a solution in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, where T-cell exhaustion creates treatment challenges. This article will appear in the May 2024 issue of Evidence-Based Oncology.
Read More