Adherence and Persistence on Relugolix for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer in the US Medicare Fee-For-Service Population

Open AccessUrology PracticeOriginal Clinical Practice15 Aug 2025Adherence and Persistence on Relugolix for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer in the US Medicare Fee-For-Service Population Rana R. McKay, Agnes Hong, Juan F. Razo, Scott C. Flanders, Christine Ferro, Mila Shapoval, Benjamin Li, and Stephen J. Freedland Rana R. McKayRana R. McKay Corresponding Author: Rana R. McKay, MD, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, 9400 Campus Point Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Telephone number: +1 (858) 657-7876 ( (email protected) ). , Agnes HongAgnes Hong Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA , Juan F. RazoJuan F. Razo Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA , Scott C. FlandersScott C. Flanders Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA , Christine FerroChristine Ferro Milliman, Inc., New York, NY, USA , Mila ShapovalMila Shapoval Milliman, Inc., New York, NY, USA , Benjamin LiBenjamin Li Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA , and Stephen J. FreedlandStephen J. Freedland Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA The Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000886AboutPDF Cite Export CitationSelect Citation formatNLMAMAIEEEACMAPAChicagoMLAHarvardTips on citation downloadDownload citationCopy citation ToolsAdd to favoritesTrack Citations ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract Introduction: This real-world study examined persistence and adherence to oral relugolix in Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with prostate cancer (PC). Methods: In Medicare 100% fee-for-service administrative claims data (2019–2023), eligible patients with PC were identified who had ≥2 relugolix claims between 12/01/2020–09/30/2023, and 12 months of Parts A, B, and D eligibility before and ≥90 days following the first relugolix claim (index date). Persistence (time from first relugolix pharmacy claim to the earliest of either a switch to a different androgen deprivation therapy, discontinuation, death, or end of study period) was assessed up to 36 months following index using a 90-day gap in pharmacy claims to define discontinuation. Adherence, defined as the proportion of patients filling prescriptions to relugolix while persistent on therapy, was assessed every 3 months through month 24 following index using a proportion of days covered ≥80% method. Analyses were stratified by PC metastatic status. Results: Of 5274 patients included, 68% had nonmetastatic PC. Mean (standard deviation) persistence was 11.2 (8.1) months in patients with metastatic PC vs 9.4 (6.9) months in patients with nonmetastatic PC (log-rank test P < .0001). Among patients who persisted on therapy, the adherence rate was 93% through 24 months and was similar between metastatic and nonmetastatic PC cohorts. Conclusions: Patients who were persistent on relugolix demonstrated high adherence throughout the study, regardless of metastatic status. These results suggest that relugolix has practical utility in real-world clinical practice. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.© 2025 The Author(s). Published on behalf of the American Urological Association, Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Supplementary Materials Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2025 The Author(s). Published on behalf of the American Urological Association, Education and Research, Inc.Keywordsadherencepersistencereal-worldrelugolixMedicare Author Information Rana R. McKay Corresponding Author: Rana R. McKay, MD, University of California San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, 9400 Campus Point Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Telephone number: +1 (858) 657-7876 ( (email protected) ). More articles by this author Agnes Hong Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA More articles by this author Juan F. Razo Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA More articles by this author Scott C. Flanders Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA Formerly with Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA More articles by this author Christine Ferro Milliman, Inc., New York, NY, USA More articles by this author Mila Shapoval Milliman, Inc., New York, NY, USA More articles by this author Benjamin Li Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA More articles by this author Stephen J. Freedland Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA The Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...