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☆ Obesity drug data could boost companies' case for US coverage, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Wegovy prescriptions were up 300% at their peak, according to data from Barclays, before supply issues began to hamper sales. A COMPELLING CASEAnalysts said the data made a compelling case for long-term health benefits of the drug. Analysts were divided on whether Medicare could potentially cover Wegovy as a cardiovascular treatment without a new law passing. Three doctors specializing in obesity treatment, including a cardiologist, were not sure whether such an indication would allow for Medicare coverage. Companies that provide healthcare insurance have begun pulling back on coverage of weight loss drugs because of the high cost of the medicines.

Persons: Read, Eli Lilly, Stacie Dusetzina, Wegovy, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, Evan Seigerman, Eugene Yang, Morningstar, Damien Conover, Tom Carper, Eli Lilly's, Dusetzina, Patrick Wingrove, Elissa Welle, Ahmed Aboulenein, Caroline Humer Organizations: Novo Nordisk, U.S, Vanderbilt University, Medicare, Barclays, University of Washington Medicine, Companies, Democratic, Novo, Reuters, Democrat, Republican, Thomson Locations: New York, Danish, Washington

☆ Focus: US psychiatrists prescribe Wegovy to battle medication-induced weight gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Elissa Welle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] A selection of injector pens for the Wegovy weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 31, 2023. The global market for weight-loss drugs is forecast to reach as much as $100 billion within the decade. Beyond severe mental health disorders, other patients struggling with obesity tend to suffer from mental health issues like depression and anxiety at higher levels than the general population, studies show. However, psychiatrists specializing in eating disorders are wary that drugs like Wegovy could exacerbate their patients’ focus on weight loss because they are so effective. Dr. Michael Weintraub, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Health, said ideally psychiatrists will work with endocrinologists because weight-loss drugs require careful monitoring not related to mental health issues.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Wegovy, Novo, It's, doggedly, Joseph Goldberg, Eli Lilly, Natalia Salomao, Dost Ongur, Brigham, Roy Chengappa, New Yorker Alexander Roger, Roger, Michael Weintraub, McLean's Ongur, Elissa Welle, Michele Gershberg, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Icahn School of Medicine, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Reuters, Mass, Brigham McLean Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, New Yorker, Fordham University, Nordisk, NYU Langone Health, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Mount Sinai, New York, Europe, Danish, Boston

Wegovy is a weekly injection that can help patients shed 15% of their weight alongside diet and exercise changes. Walgreens (WBA.O), one of the biggest U.S. pharmacies, is experiencing supply shortages for the higher strengths, spokesperson Erin Loverher confirmed. Doctors in six U.S. states told Reuters patients are reporting problems filling their prescriptions for the higher doses. Three of the doctors said supply delays at pharmacies had resulted in patients missing their Wegovy injections at the prescribed weekly interval. "Patients are often having to delay their injections because it's harder for pharmacies to get Wegovy in stock," he said.

Persons: Erin Loverher, Novo, Alicia Shelly, Shelly, Robert Kushner, Wegovy, Kushner, Denise Wells, Wells, Holly Lofton, New York University Langone, Disha Narang, Narang, Maggie Fick, Patrick Wingrove, Elissa Welle, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Walgreens, Wellstar, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Amazon Pharmacy, New York University, Northwestern Medicine, Barclays Research, Novo, Thomson Locations: U.S, Danish, Georgia, Chicago, Michigan, Chicago , New York, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Charlottesville , Virginia, London, New York

☆ What is aspartame and what do the new WHO rulings mean?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Discovered in 1965 by American chemist James Schlatter, aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than regular table sugar. One group of experts, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), said aspartame is a "possible carcinogen". For aspartame, this limit is 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram of body weight per day. Aspartame's use in food products has been debated for decades and has also prompted some companies to remove the compound from their products. PepsiCo (PEP.O) removed aspartame from Diet Pepsi in 2015 but brought it back a year later.

Persons: James Schlatter, Gunter Kuhnle, Mills, Yoplait, JECFA, Elissa Welle, Savyata Mishra, Deborah Sophia, Caroline Humer, Catherine Evans Organizations: World Health, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, WHO, International Agency for Research, Cancer, FAO, United Kingdom's University of Reading, PepsiCo, Pepsi, FDA, IARC, National Library of Medicine, Thomson Locations: Diet, saccharin, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, New York, Bengaluru

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