Ro and Amgen to examine barriers to GLP-1 access in obesity care using real-world data 

Ro and Amgen have announced a research collaboration focused on understanding real-world barriers to obesity treatment, using de-identified data to examine patient experience, insurance coverage, and access to GLP-1 therapies in routine clinical care. 

The collaboration will use data from Ro’s nationwide direct-to-patient platform to examine real-world challenges in accessing evidence-based obesity care, focusing on patient and provider experiences with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicines, the research will analyze insurance coverage and prior authorization requirements for GLP-1 therapies. According to the companies, these factors have become a major barrier for both patients and clinicians as demand for the medicines continues to grow. 

GLP-1 medicines have reshaped the obesity treatment landscape, but access remains uneven. While earlier research has largely focused on policy-level data, Ro and Amgen said their work will examine real-world coverage among patients actively seeking treatment. A specific focus will be trends in prior authorizations, defined as a provider’s request for insurance approval of a patient’s prescribed therapy. The companies said these insights are intended to help clinically eligible patients and their providers better understand insurance coverage criteria, including where gaps in coverage exist. 

Zach Reitano, CEO and Co-Founder of Ro, said improving access at scale remains a central challenge: 

“GLP-1s can be life-changing for those who can get treatment, but real impact requires scale – which means dramatically improving access for the millions of Americans who could benefit from care.” 

Reitano added that studying Ro’s real-world, de-identified data could generate insights to help build tools that “empower patients to overcome barriers to care and get more personalized support,” supporting broader access as new medicines are developed. 

Brian Bradbury, Vice President of Observational Research at Amgen, added: 

“Through this collaboration, we aim to leverage Ro’s robust real-world data across the care ecosystem to better understand the patient experience and identify where limitations and unmet needs persist. Together, we can translate those insights into future therapy development, innovations in care delivery, and greater patient outcomes.” 

The study will track insurance coverage and prior authorization requirements for GLP-1 medicines, including Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Despite the growing role of these therapies in obesity care, many patients continue to face difficulties obtaining them because of coverage exclusions or administrative requirements, the companies noted. 

The collaboration takes place against a backdrop of broader changes in the obesity care ecosystem. In the US, telehealth and direct-to-consumer healthcare companies are increasingly involved in connecting patients with virtual prescribers and helping them navigate coverage requirements. At the same time, policy developments, including recent agreements affecting pricing for government programs, have renewed attention on affordability and access.