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☆ ‘Ozempic babies’: What the science says on whether GLP-1s lead to surprise pregnancies, and their safety if they do
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Mira Cheng | Meg Tirrell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“I was depressed, severely depressed for that whole time.”Five months earlier, in October 2022, Bentley had started taking Mounjaro for weight loss. Ozempic uses the active ingredient semaglutide, and Wegovy is the version approved for weight loss. Mounjaro uses tirzepatide, which also targets a second hormone called GIP, and Zepbound is its brand name for weight loss. Safety in pregnancyEven as GLP-1 medicines may increase fertility, little is known about their safety during pregnancy. “It’s kind of like heart failure or sleep apnea,” he said, referring to conditions for which GLP-1 drugs have recently shown positive results.

Persons: CNN — Catera Bentley, Bentley, ”, “, ” Bentley, she’d, —, ‘, ’ Bentley, Jody Dushay, Dushay, Catera Bentley, Ivy, Daniel Drucker, ” Drucker, they’re, Drucker, Eli Lilly, ” Dushay, haven’t, That’s, Anuja Dokras, Dokras, Melanie Cree, Cree, PCOS, aren’t, Eli Lilly’s, Daniel Skovronsky, ” Skovronsky, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, it’s, Mounjaro Organizations: CNN, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, University of, Mount Sinai, Novo Nordisk, Zepbound, US Centers for Disease Control, University of Pennsylvania, PCOS, Children’s Hospital, National Institutes of Health, CNN Health Locations: Steele , Alabama, Mount, United States, Children’s Hospital Colorado, —, Colorado

☆ FTC challenges 'junk' patents held by 10 drugmakers, including for Novo Nordisk's Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday said it is challenging hundreds of alleged "junk" patents held by pharmaceutical companies for 20 brand-name drugs, including Novo Nordisk's blockbuster drugs Ozempic, Saxenda and Victoza. The FTC issued letters to 10 companies, warning them that certain drug patents were improperly listed. Many of the drug patents are for Type 2 diabetes, along with asthma and inhalers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Generic drugmakers can only launch cheaper versions of a branded drug if the patents have expired or are successfully challenged in court. The FTC first challenged dozens of branded drug patents last fall, leading three drugmakers to comply and delist their patents with the FDA.

Persons: Novo, Boehringer, Lina Khan, Biden, drugmakers, Joe Biden's Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Covis Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Food and Drug Administration, FDA Locations: U.S

☆ EU probe of weight loss and diabetes drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic finds no link to suicidal thoughts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

European Union drug regulators found no evidence that highly popular weight loss and diabetes drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic are linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and self-injury, the regulator said Friday. The review examined several drugs from Novo Nordisk , including Wegovy and Ozempic. Clinical trials from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have not demonstrated a link between GLP-1s and suicidal thoughts. The probe also included other active ingredients in older weight loss and diabetes drugs, including dulaglutide, exenatide and lixisenatide. Results from another study conducted by the agency also did not support a link between GLP-1 drugs and the risk of suicidal thoughts.

Persons: Eli Lilly, couldn't, Liraglutide Organizations: Novo Nordisk, European Union, European Medicines Agency, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, EMA, Icelandic Medicines Agency Locations: London, Britain, Novo, U.S, GLP, Wegovy, Ozempic

Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Netflix to $700 from $600. 7:13 a.m.: JPMorgan cuts Boeing price target, but says demand should push strong long-term growth Investors shouldn't give up on Boeing as a long-term investment, according to JPMorgan. Analyst Seth Seifman lowered his price target by $20 to $210, implying 21.1% potential upside for shares of the aerospace company. He raised his target price by $14 to $62, which suggests 4.2% potential upside for DocuSign over the next year. The analyst kept his neutral rating on the stock but cut his price target by $16 to $180.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Seth Seifman, Seifman, — Pia Singh, Evan Seigerman, Seigerman, Karl Keirstead, DocuSign, Keirstead, Itay Michaeli, Michaeli, Tesla, Elon Musk, Benjamin Swinburne, Swinburne, Wolfe, Shreyas Patil, Patil, Fred Imbert Organizations: CNBC, Netflix, Wolfe Research, JPMorgan, Boeing, Novo Nordisk, BMO Capital Markets BMO Capital, pharma, UBS, Adobe, Citi, Citi Research, Tesla, Netflix Netflix, Mobileye Locations: China, Novo, U.S, Netflix's

☆ Amgen wants in on the booming weight loss drug market — and it's taking a different approach
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Mario Tama | Getty ImagesAmgen is taking a new approach as it tries to stand out in a crowded field of drugmakers racing to develop the next blockbuster weight loss drug. It's too early to say how competitive Amgen will be in the budding weight loss drug space, which Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have so far dominated. Goldman Sachs also projects that between 10 million and 70 million Americans will be taking weight loss drugs by 2028. The sustained weight loss in Amgen's study appears to contrast with results seen in clinical trials on Zepbound and Wegovy. An injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug, is displayed in New York City, U.S., December 11, 2023.

Persons: Mario Tama, Eli Lilly, Goldman Sachs, Zepbound, Eli Lilly's, Amgen's MartiTide, Caroline Apovian, Apovian, Joe Buglewicz, MariTide, Holly Lofton, Eli Lilly’s, Brendan McDermid, Reuters Amgen's, William Blair, Matt Phipps, Phipps Organizations: Getty, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Viking Therapeutics, Therapeutics, Zealand Pharma, Boehringer, Center, Weight Management, Wellness, Brigham, Women's, Washington Post, NYU Langone Health, Reuters, William Blair & Company, CNBC Locations: Thousand Oaks , California, Oaks , California, Novo, New York City, U.S

☆ Weight loss drug Wegovy is now approved for heart health — but that won't mean broad insurance coverage just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

The blockbuster drug — one of a handful of weight loss treatments to skyrocket in popularity over the last year — is now approved in the U.S. for heart health, too. The spokesperson added that state Medicaid programs would be required to cover Wegovy for its new cardiovascular use. But Gremminger said the standard of care for the long-term use of weight loss drugs is "in flux." State employees will no longer have insurance coverage for GLP-1s when used for weight loss at the beginning of next month. Both drugmakers have launched programs to help patients, with or without commercial insurance coverage, afford their weight loss treatments.

Persons: Klesty, John Crable, Wegovy, Jaime Almandoz, Joe Buglewicz, Shawn Gremminger, Hartley, Gremminger, Dale Folwell, We've, Folwell, Phelan M, Eli Lilly, Ceci Connolly, Julie Stich Organizations: Reuters, Novo Nordisk, CNBC, Medicare, Services, FDA, CVS, Aetna, International Foundation of Employee, Drug Administration, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Washington Post, Getty, National Alliance of Healthcare, Taft, Nordisk, Nordisk's Ozempic, GOP, Carolina, Republican Governors Association, AP, Alliance of Community Health, U.S . Health, IFEBP, BMI Locations: U.S, Novo, Dallas, North Carolina, Orlando , Florida

☆ What weight tells us about our health
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Dr. Sanjay Gupta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

(CNN) — If you’ve been paying attention to health news recently, you may have noticed a subtle but real shift in the way society discusses body weight. Beyond health care dollarsDespite changing attitudes about larger bodies, excess weight does carry a price. From a health care standpoint, it costs the country a lot of money. According to a study published in the journal The Lancet in 2020, 27% of total health care expenditures in 2016 — about $730.4 billion — could be attributed to “modifiable risk factors” for preventable health conditions like cardiovascular disease. That was eight years ago, when our total health care expenditure was $2.7 trillion, according to the study.

Persons: you’ve, We’re, Dr, Fatima Cody Stanford, “, They’re, Adolphe Quetelet, Ancel Keys, ”, ” Stanford, Morgan, That’s, we’ll, Daniel Lieberman, who’ll, Oprah Organizations: CNN, American Medical Association, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, National, bloodwork, Harvard Locations: Belgian

☆ Your tax dollars are getting spent on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, and the total is adding up
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementConnecticut was quick to experience the impact of weight loss drugs on its economy last year. Politico reported in November that the state's employee health plan was set to spend $30 million on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Comptroller Sean Scanlon told BI that that was up from $8 million in 2020. Connecticut began testing out a method to offer those seeking weight loss drugs access to a program with online tools for weight management. In North Carolina, the State Health Plan has put a moratorium on new users of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.

Persons: Sean Scanlon, Scanlon, it's, Dale Folwell, Folwell, Shelby Livingston, Eli Lilly, that'll, Nik Modi Organizations: Service, Business, Bloomberg, Medicaid, Politico, BI, State, North, State Health, Novo Nordisk, Wall Street, University of Texas System, UT, RBC Capital Markets Locations: Connecticut, Wegovy, . Connecticut, North Carolina, Novo, Netherlands, United States

☆ Getting hot new weight-loss drugs like Wegovy will still be a struggle in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementIf you were hoping that powerhouse weight-loss drugs like Wegovy would be easier to get in 2024, you may be disappointed. Don't expect Medicare coverage any time soonMedicare could play a major role in expanding coverage of weight-loss drugs . Americans' hunger for weight-loss drugs, and the shockwaves it's likely to send through the culture and economy, are only just beginning. He oversees the state employee health plan, which saw costs skyrocket as thousands of workers suddenly started taking weight-loss drugs. People who are already getting weight-loss drugs will be able to keep taking them.

Persons: —, Renee Rayburg, Mercer, Eli Lilly's, Jose Luis Pelaez, there's, Wegovy, Bill Coyle, ZS, Eli Lilly, David Risinger, Lilly, Risinger, Morgan Stanley, Mounjaro, They're, That's, Patrik Jonsson, Lilly USA, Coyle, Dale Folwell, Folwell Organizations: Service, Pharmaceutical, Group, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Mayo Clinic, University of Texas, Hennepin Healthcare, Medicare, Capital Alpha Partners, Vanderbilt University, Nordisk's Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, pharma, Nordisk's, FDA, Pharma, UBS BioPharma Conference, Walmart, Jefferies, Nordisk Locations: Mounjaro, Government, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Hennepin, ZS, U.S, Carolina, North Carolina

☆ Maker of Wegovy, Ozempic showers money on U.S. obesity doctors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Novo spent at least $25.8 million over the past decade on U.S. medical professionals to promote its two obesity drugs, Wegovy and Saxenda, the analysis found. Jastreboff has also worked on clinical trials of obesity drugs for Eli Lilly, which markets a Wegovy competitor. Some doctors said Novo’s payments exemplify how the flood of industry money can dominate decision-making about care and coverage. Government pharmacy officer Solaru said her agency concluded that the new obesity drugs could be cost-effective by preventing other weight-related diseases and boosting workplace productivity. In January, the personnel office told its health plans they must cover at least one GLP-1 obesity drug for 8 million workers, retirees and family members.

Persons: Lee Kaplan, Kaplan, ”, gastroenterologist, He’s, Novo, Donna Ryan, Ryan, “, ” Kaplan, ” Novo, Robert Lustig, “ I’m, Lustig, They’re, Ania, ” Jastreboff, Jastreboff, Eli Lilly, Lilly’s Zepbound, Lilly, ” Lilly, Novo’s, Ayana, Sanders, Arthur Kellermann, ” Kellermann, mouthpieces, ’ ”, “ I'm, Jamy Ard, Ard, Dele, ” Solaru, ” Ryan, Scott Kahan, Kahan, Solaru, Christine Gallagher, Wegovy, Rebekah Carl, Carl, Jen Wexler, gaunt, Wexler Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Dartmouth, Nutrition Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Reuters, Cambridge, Obesity Society, U.S ., Management, Reuters . Pharmaceutical, ”, U.S, United, National Health Service, University of California, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Doctors, Wegovy’s, BMI, Yale University’s Center, Weight Management, Wall Street, American Medical Association, Rutgers University’s School of Public Health, Affordable, . Pharmaceutical, Companies, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Wake Forest University, Wake Forest Baptist Health Weight Management, Obesity, Pennington Biomedical Research, U.S . National Institutes of Health, Personnel Management, Coalition, STOP, George Washington University, Novo Locations: CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Boston, U.S, Novo, Danish, United States, Louisiana, San Francisco, Wegovy, Pennington, Baton Rouge , Louisiana, Government, New Columbia , Pennsylvania, Florida

☆ British health agency warns of fake Ozempic pens linked to hospitalizations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Britain’s health agency is warning the public not to buy pre-filled pens claiming to contain the weight loss drugs Ozempic and Saxenda without a prescription, after a small number of people were hospitalized. Ozempic is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, and is used off-label for weight loss. More than 350 potentially fake Ozempic pens have been seized since January of this year, according to the MHRA. The agency has also received reports that patients have obtained fake Saxenda pens in the UK through “through non-legitimate routes.”No fake weight-loss pens were seized before January 2023, the agency says. The maker of both drugs, Novo Nordisk, told CNN Thursday that it is aware that counterfeit pens are being circulated.

Persons: Ozempic, ” Allison Schneider, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Alison Cave, ” Ozempic, “, Meg Tirrell Organizations: CNN, Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Novo Nordisk, “, “ Novo Nordisk, General Pharmaceutical Council, Get CNN, CNN Health, European Medicines Agency, European Union Locations: Ozempic, “ Novo, Novo, Germany, Europe

☆ Morgan Stanley warns snack companies that weight loss drug study showed 'significant reduction in food consumption'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The use of Eli Lilly 's Mounjaro for weight loss can pull shoppers away from the snack aisle — though the transition will likely be gradual, according to Morgan Stanley. Kaufman noted a six-week study presented at ObesityWeek that showed users of Mounjaro cut calories and weight at a faster clip. The study also produced evidence that medication takers had a "significant reduction in food consumption," as well as fewer cravings for sweets and fast food fats. And while taking Mounjaro reduced food cravings overall, it had a particular impact on sweets, the study found. All four of the snack makers Kaufman said to watch have lost share value in 2023.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Morgan Stanley, Mounjaro, Pamela Kaufman, Kaufman, Hershey, Campbell, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Drug Administration, Hershey, Brand Locations: Mondelez

☆ Researchers link popular weight loss drugs to serious digestive problems for ‘hundreds of thousands’ worldwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

They can help people with diabetes control their blood sugar and lead to substantial weight loss for people with or without diabetes. Liraglutide was FDA approved as a weight loss medicine since 2014. What’s been less clear is whether patients taking these drugs for weight loss may have the same serious side effects. CNN reached out to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of both injectable weight loss drugs examined in this study, for comment. Sodhi said they started the man on a medication that treats stomach paralysis, “and he got a lot better,” Sodhi said.

Persons: Ozempic, ”, Mahyar, —, It’s, Liraglutide, it’s, Mohit Sodhi, Sodhi, Ian Musgrave, Musgrave, What’s, “, ” Sodhi, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: CNN, University of British, US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, “, University of Adelaide, Science Media Centre, BMI, Novo Nordisk, CNN Health Locations: University of British Columbia, Australia, Novo

Accounts of suicidal thoughts linked to this class of drugs are drawing increasing scrutiny, including an investigation by European regulators announced in July. More than half of the narrative summaries describe suicidal thoughts appearing shortly after the person started the medicine or increased the dose. Wegovy’s U.S. prescribing label, produced with FDA approval, says suicidal thoughts or attempts have been reported in clinical trials for other weight-loss medicines. Sanofi's Acomplia, which never won U.S. approval, was withdrawn in Europe in 2008 after being linked to suicidal thoughts. She said she has not experienced any suicidal thoughts on that drug.

Persons: Dawn Heidlebaugh, Megan Jelinger, ”, Heidlebaugh, Eli Lilly, Thomas J, Moore, aren't, It’s, Novo, Dr, Erick Turner, Turner, Novo’s, drugmakers, Sanofi's, Sanofi, Contrave, John Amos, Lilly, Reuters weren’t, Lisa Wood, ” Wood, Sarah Sobol, you’re, Sobol, ’ ” Katherine, Jayson Chesnutt, Chesnutt, Robin Respaut, Chad Terhune, Maggie Fick, Ludwig Burger, Michele Gershberg, Brian Thevenot Organizations: REUTERS, Novo, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Reuters, FDA, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Novo Nordisk, U.S ., European Union, European Medicines Agency, U.S, Currax Pharmaceuticals, Vivus, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Findlay , Ohio, U.S, Ohio, Novo, Canada, Europe, Carolina, Buffalo , New York, North Carolina, Indiana

☆ Ozempic, Wegovy drug prescriptions hit 9 million, surge 300% in under three years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. health care providers wrote more than nine million prescriptions for Ozempic, Wegovy and similar diabetes and obesity drugs during the last three months of 2022, according to a new analysis released Wednesday. Among the other drugs prescribed are Eli Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro and an older GLP-1 drug from Novo Nordisk called Saxenda, which isn't as effective for weight loss as Ozempic and Wegovy. Ozempic's list price tops $935 per monthly package, and its weight loss counterpart Wegovy is about $1,300. Other drugmakers are jockeying to capitalize on the budding weight loss industry. And analysts say Eli Lilly's Mounjaro has the potential to overtake drugs from Novo Nordisk after its approved in the U.S. for weight loss.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Eli, Elon Musk, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy, Health, National Institutes of Health Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S

☆ Analysts predicted new obesity medicines would be blockbusters. Now they’re raising their forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Fernandez sees a total addressable market of $140 billion to support patients with obesity. He expects there is a potential for GLP-1 drugs to become as common and widely used, much like statins are used to lower cholesterol. Morgan Stanley's Flynn estimates a 30% share of the diabetes market would generate $109 billion on a worldwide basis for GLP-1 drugs. Layer in a 15% to 30% share of the obesity market and that equates to worldwide sales of $97.4 billion to $194.8 billion. Guggenheim's estimates also assume that oral GLP-1 drugs that are currently in development are able to come to market a few years from now.

Persons: Seamus Fernandez, Fernandez, Lilly, Eli Lilly, Morgan Stanley, Terence Flynn, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, Insulet, Canaccord, William Plovanic, Plovanic, It's, Morgan Stanley's Flynn, Flynn, Novo, Michael Bloom Organizations: Wall, Novo, American Heart Association, Food and Drug Administration, Novo Nordisk, Iqvia, Disease Control Locations: GLP

☆ Big pharma's blockbuster obesity drug battle is just getting started, and it's headed for $100 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

In this article LLYNOVO.B-DK Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTOzempic drug to treat diabetes. Since Wegovy and Mounjaro have been on the market, "neither company can make the drug fast enough," she said. The Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic in 2017 for diabetes and Wegovy in 2021 to treat obesity. Mounjaro, introduced in 2022 to treat diabetes, contains GLP-1, plus GIP, a similar appetite suppressor that can lead to weight loss. Coverage for Mounjaro ($1,023 per month) to treat diabetes varies based on an individual's insurance plan and drug benefits.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Novo's, Lilly's, Emily Field, Lilly, David Ricks, CNBC's Jim Cramer, Ozempic, Novo, Mounjaro, George Frey, Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, Wajahat Mehal, Tom Carper, Bill Cassidy of, We've, Camilla Sylvest, there's, Sylvest, Cowen, What's, It's, Mike Mason, Amgen, Emmanuel Papadakis Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Amgen, Barclays, Nordisk, Drug Administration, Mounjaro, SVB Securities, Food and Drug Administration, Pharmacy, Reuters Novo, Novo, Wegovy, European Union, Medicare, Yale School, Metabolic, Congressional Black Caucus, CDC, pharma, American Medical Association, , Big Pharma, American Diabetes Association, Deutsche Bank Locations: Lilly, Denmark, Provo , Utah, U.S, European, Delaware, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Novo, Kalundborg, Hillerød, Boone County , Indiana

☆ Inside the struggles at Calibrate, a new kind of weight-loss startup that's facing a mountain of patient complaints and refunds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

Weight-loss startup Calibrate has struggled to get patients access to buzzy drugs like Ozempic. Kenyon's startup Calibrate, which she launched in June 2020, is one of the healthcare companies feeding the frenzy. CalibrateThe company is now running up against several massive challenges: Weight-loss drugs are expensive and in short supply, and health insurers are increasingly reluctant to pay for them. Kenyon said about 20% of Calibrate members do not have coverage for weight-loss medications, and around half of those people request refunds from Calibrate. Want to tell us about your experience with Calibrate or weight-loss drugs?

Persons: lightbulb, Isabelle Kenyon, Kenyon, Jenny Craig, OptumRx, She's, she's, Saxenda, —, weren't, It's, they've, Holly, hadn't, hasn't, Claire Rosenzweig, Rosenzweig, it's, Andrew Kelly, Shelby Livingston, Rebecca Torrence Organizations: New, Tiger Global, Founders Fund, Optum Ventures, FedEx, Food and Drug Administration, Jefferies, Better Business Bureau, BBB, Better Business, Metropolitan New, Better, Apple, Businessolver, Optum, UnitedHealth, Employees, REUTERS, Madryn Asset Management, SM Ventures, Ventures Locations: America, New York, Danish, GLP, Florida, Metropolitan New York, slivingston@insider.com, rtorrence@insider.com

☆ Weight loss drugs boost sales at retail pharmacies, but they may not help profits much
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

George Frey | ReutersDrugmakers aren't the only ones feeling the impact of the weight loss industry gold rush. Retailers with pharmacy businesses, such as Walmart , Kroger and Rite Aid , said increased demand for prescription weight loss drugs helped boost sales for the second quarter. Are weight loss drugs profitable? 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. For one, branded drugs don't directly compete with other medications because they have patent protections.

Persons: George Frey, Reuters Drugmakers, Arun Sundaram, it's, Elon Musk, Eli Lilly, Doug McMillon, Matthew Schroeder, Schroeder, Rodney McMullen, CFRA Research's Sundaram, Michael Lasser, Jim Vondruska, USC's Schaeffer Organizations: KR NOVO.B, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy, Reuters, Walmart, Kroger, Rite, CFRA Research, CNBC, Nordisk, Elon, Pfizer, UBS, USC's, USC's Schaeffer Center for Health, Association Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S, GLP, Chicago , Illinois

☆ Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk raises outlook as sales of its weight-loss drug soar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Hannah Ward-Glenton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

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. The company's diabetes and obesity division performed particularly well, bolstered by interest in its blockbuster injection Wegovy. Novo Nordisk , which makes the weight-loss drug Wegovy, raised its outlook for 2023 Thursday, as it reported soaring sales. For 2023, the company now anticipates sales growth of 27%-33% and operating profit growth of 31%-37%, at constant exchange rates. The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, an FDA-approved drug that works by imitating a naturally-occurring gut hormone that helps to regulate appetite.

Persons: Wegovy, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, — Sam Meredith Organizations: Novo Nordisk, FDA Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Danish

☆ Insurers face long road, high cost to cover obesity drugs after promising Wegovy heart health data
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

There is likely a long way to go 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 preliminary. "Health insurance providers will continue to analyze new evidence as it becomes available," he added. Ceci Connolly, CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans, acknowledged the promise of the data but said "outrageous prices should give everyone pause." The organization represents regional, community-based health plans that cover more than 18 million Americans across the U.S.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Wegovy, Eli Lilly, David Allen, Ceci Connolly, Jared Holz, It's, Debra Tyler's, Joe Buglewicz, Eduardo Grunvald, George Frey, UCSD's Gunvald, Eli, Ethan Lazarus, Lazarus Organizations: Reuters Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk, America's Health, Alliance of Community Health, U.S, Drugs, Pfizer, Medicare, CVS, Aetna, CNBC, Washington Post, Getty, UCSD Health's Center, International Foundation of Employee, University of Texas System, UTS, Novo, Reuters, Obesity Medicine Association, New England, of Medicine Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Mizuho, Killingworth, Conn, Texas

☆ UK investigates weight loss, diabetes drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic for suicide risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Packages of the weight-loss drug Wegovy from the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk lie on the sales counter in a Danish pharmacy. U.K. health authorities on Wednesday said they are reviewing obesity and diabetes drugs like Novo Nordisk 's Wegovy and Ozempic after some patients who took the treatments reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm. The MHRA said the review includes all obesity and diabetes drugs available in the U.K. Aside from Ozempic and Wegovy, it includes Novo Nordisk's other weight loss drug Saxenda. Other diabetes drugs like AstraZeneca 's Bydureon, Eli Lilly 's Trulicity and Sanofi 's Lyxumia are also included in the probe. Novo Nordisk said in a statement that it received a review request from the MHRA on Monday.

Persons: MHRA, Eli Lilly, Sanofi Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Nordisk, Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, CNBC, European Union, AstraZeneca, Reuters Locations: Danish, U.S, Novo

☆ Exclusive: UK probes Novo's Ozempic, weight-loss drug Saxenda over suicidal, self-harming thoughts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Maggie Fick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Saxenda is Novo's older GLP-1 drug and has lower effectiveness than its newer obesity treatment Wegovy, which contains semaglutide. Novo told Reuters it had received a request on Monday from the MHRA about the agency's review of potential suicidal and self-harming thoughts related to GLP-1 drugs. The MHRA said AstraZeneca's GLP-1 drug for type 2 diabetes, called exenatide and marketed as Bydureon, was also included in the review. The MHRA said that two other GLP-1 drugs, Sanofi's (SASY.PA) lixisenatide and Eli Lilly's (LLY.N) dulaglutide, were also included. It is also investigating GLP-1 drugs for possible risk of thyroid cancer.

Persons: Novo, AstraZeneca's GLP, lixisenatide, Eli Lilly's, Sanofi, Eli Lilly, liraglutide, Alison Cave, Novo's, MHRA, Ozempic, GLP, Maggie Fick, Josephine Mason, Mark Potter, Jane Merriman Organizations: Novo Nordisk, European Union, The Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Reuters, AstraZeneca, European Medicines Agency, Thomson Locations: Britain, Europe, United States

☆ 2 huge employers just said they're dumping Wegovy from their health plans. It's a sign of a crackdown on popular weight-loss drugs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Ascension and the University of Texas System are set to stop paying for workers' weight-loss drugs. Jenny started taking the popular weight-loss injection Wegovy in February and saw results almost immediately. picture alliance/Getty ImagesThe crackdown on insurance coverage for weight-loss drugs may be just beginning. Renee Rayburg, a consultant at Pharmaceutical Strategies Group who helps companies manage their spending on prescription drugs, said she hadn't seen many employers retreat completely from covering weight-loss drugs, as Ascension is doing. Any weight-loss drugs that hit the market in the future would also be excluded.

Persons: Jenny, Wegovy, Ascension, Renee Rayburg, hadn't, Saxenda, Angela Fitch, Fitch, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, Getty, Marianne Ayala, Tracy Spencer, Spencer, Drugmakers, haven't, she's, that's Organizations: University of Texas, Companies, Pharmaceutical, Group, PSG, Wegovy, UT, Obesity Medicine Association . Obesity Medicine, Obesity Medicine Association, Food, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Novo Nordisk

☆ What investors need to know about weight loss medicines and suicide risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Investors would be forgiven if talk of a potential suicide risk associated with a new class of diabetes and weight loss drugs led to skittishness last week. Prior attempts to treat overweight or obese patients with medications were often plagued with side effects and drug recalls. The first is that most obesity drugs, including GLP-1s, are "centrally acting," which means they work on a patient's brain. The second is that prior obesity drugs have been withdrawn because of high rates of psychiatric disorders, he said, citing Sanofi's Acomplia as one of the more recent examples. This was not the case for the GLP-1 medications.

Persons: skittishness, Eli Lilly's Trulicity, Lilly's, Wolfe, Tim Anderson, Anderson, Sanofi's Acomplia, Eli Lilly, Wolfe's Anderson, Colin Bristow, Lilly, LLY's, Peter Verdult, Wegovy, Verdult, Bristow, Emmanuel Papadakis, Papadakis, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Nordisk's Ozempic, Wall Street, European Medicines Agency, EMA, Wolfe Research, FDA, UBS, Citi, Novo Nordisk, Deutsche Bank, Prevention Locations: United States, U.S

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