Every year, the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus conference gathers thousands of managed care leaders to discuss some of the most complex issues facing the health care industry.  

From Oct. 27–30, Prime Therapeutics (Prime) experts presented five research posters and lead educational sessions on a variety of topics, including the company’s industry-leading research on adherence and persistence of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist medications, research comparing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapies, as well as savings from a pharmacist-to-prescriber telephonic intervention. Prime’s research garnered both platinum and gold awards this year.  

In the latest episode of the “Pharmacy Friends” podcast, “Real-world evidence and innovation in managed care pharmacy: Insights from AMCP Nexus 2025,” join guests Pat Gleason, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FAMCP, assistant vice president of health outcomes; Nick Friedlander, PharmD, clinical program pharmacist; and Simone Ndujiuba, PharmD, BCOP, clinical oncology pharmacist senior principal; and host Alex Cook, senior public relations manager, for a discussion about how Prime’s research helps address affordability and accessibility issues and guides health care providers and peers toward clarity on treatment for complex health conditions.  

“Research is more than just finding interesting stats,” Cook said. “It’s about finding better ways to deliver savings, simplicity and support.”   

Prime’s award-winning research on GLP-1 therapy 

Prime continues to champion real-world insights related to the use of GLP-1 medications, with its latest research showing that only 8% of patients remain on therapy after three years, with slightly higher adherence for high-potency products.  

“Clinical trials aren’t real-world (evidence),” Gleason said. “So we’re putting out numbers, and we’re learning and we’re seeing the evolution, especially as shortages are resolved, what the persistency rates are. And that can really help us, then, in modeling and understanding the cost impacts going forward as well as where we want to be. ... We want to see people stay on (the) drug and succeed. If you’re going to invest in the therapy, we want (patients) to succeed in their clinical outcome.”  

“Everyone knows someone that’s taking a GLP-1, either for diabetes or weight loss,” Gleason said. “They are revolutionary drugs. They are the best weight loss treatment drugs we have. But because of shortages — we think (that) impacted persistency.”  

How prior authorization streamlines approvals and reduces administrative burden 

According to Prime internal data, 60% of claims for GLP-1 drugs used in diabetes were processed automatically. The automation benefits prescribers and patients, with one out of 71 people in the commercial book of business benefiting from the process. 

Managed care pharmacy programs optimize savings 

High-touch pharmacy programs, such as prescriber outreach, are shown to optimize savings for clients and members, Friedlander shared. Research validates the savings and efficiency of these interventions.  

Oncology trends 

Ndujiuba shared more about research comparing CAR T-cell and BiTE therapies for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, highlighting differences in cost, site of care, and evolving clinical outcomes.  

New initiatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are accelerating drug approvals, with adaptive protocols and early-phase trials shaping the future of oncology research. 

“Pharmacy Friends” is a podcast dedicated to bringing industry experts to the same table to talk about what is happening in pharmacy today, what is coming and, most importantly, what it means to you. Listen to the full episode “Pharmacy Friends” podcast, “Real-world evidence and innovation in managed care pharmacy: Insights from AMCP Nexus 2025” at PrimeTherapeutics.com/Listen.