A selection of injector pens for the Saxenda weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 31, 2023.
Jim Vondruska | Reuters
Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy slashed the risk of serious heart problems by 20% in a large clinical trial — a landmark finding that could put more pressure on insurers to cover the blockbuster medication and similar weight loss treatments.
The data sent weight loss-related stocks soaring on Tuesday, with Novo Nordisk and its main rival Eli Lilly soaring more than 15%. Weight Watchers International, which owns a telemedicine firm that prescribes obesity drugs, jumped as much as 24%.
But it is likely that more data of this type will be necessary before the U.S. sees increased insurance coverage for obesity drugs.
While the trial results demonstrate that obesity drugs may have significant health benefits beyond shedding unwanted pounds, organizations representing U.S. insurers emphasized that the data is still…
2023-08-09 14:19:04
Source from www.cnbc.com
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