Novo Nordisk’s oral version of Wegovy, a GLP-1 for obesity, could be the fastest drug launch in U.S. history, according to an analysis from Leerink Partners, a healthcare investment bank. Approved in late December and rolled out to U.S. patients…
GLP-1s
Participating Medicare Part D plans can officially begin covering weight-loss treatment in 2027. The initiative falls under CMS’ voluntary “Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth” — or BALANCE — model. The December news followed President Donald Trump’s…
GLP-1 therapies helped drive a 79% year-over-year increase in strategic pharmaceutical M&A deal value through mid-November 2025, as drugmakers ramped up efforts to meet surging demand and expand their metabolic portfolios. According to Bain & Co.’s Global M&A Report 2026,…
As GLP-1 pills for weight loss enter the U.S. market, some pharmaceutical companies are testing the possibility of a gene therapy to stimulate GLP-1 production, The Washington Post reported Jan. 24. GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound,…
More than 500,000 providers prescribed GLP-1s in 2025, with wide variation between specialties, according to a Jan. 22 article from IQVIA, a clinical research firm. GLP-1 medications are approved for several conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic…
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Fairfax, Va.-based George Mason University is leading a phase 2 clinical trial of ARD-201, an oral medication designed to help patients maintain weight loss after stopping GLP-1 treatments such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The university is one of six sites…
In a review of 258 patients with Type 2 diabetes who underwent metabolic bariatric surgery or medical and lifestyle interventions, including GLP-1 drugs, surgery was superior regardless of social determinants of health. The research, published Jan. 20 in Annals of…
Long-term GLP-1 use slows medical cost growth, according to findings published Jan. 13 from professional services firm Aon. The firm analyzed 192,000 GLP-1 users from July 2022 to March 2025, comparing outcomes to non-users, through commercial medical and pharmacy claims…
Use of GLP-1 medications was associated with lower long-term mortality among patients with colorectal cancer and obesity, according to research presented at an oncology conference. Over a 10-year period, GLP-1 drugs were associated with about 5.6 fewer deaths per 100…
The FDA is requesting that drugmakers remove suicidal ideation and behavior warnings from the labeling of three GLP-1 receptor agonists — Saxenda (liraglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) — effective Jan. 13, 2026. The FDA’s decision follows a meta-analysis of…