GLP-1s

CVS Health, Walmart and Sam’s Club announced they are expanding support for Medicare beneficiaries as the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program prepares to launch July 1. Established under agreements the Trump administration negotiated with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk in November,…

A wave of new research is expanding what clinicians and health system leaders know about GLP-1 medications — covering new territory from liver disease to male fertility to a blood pressure safety signal.  Here are eight recent findings:

GLP-1 medications did not harm male hormones or fertility after long-term use and may improve testosterone levels and sperm quality in men with obesity-related low testosterone, according to research being presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago. Here…

The FDA has updated guidance warning telehealth companies that promoting compounded drugs, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, with false or misleading claims violates federal law and prevents patients from making informed decisions about their care. The agency identified five prohibited practices…

Middle-age adults who use GLP-1 medications for obesity could save an average of $192,735 in lifetime medical costs, according to a study published in June by the National Bureau of Economic Research.  Researchers from Los Angeles-based University of Southern California…

Drugmakers are racing to develop next-generation obesity drugs that build on the success of products from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Among them, Pfizer, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim and Amgen are focusing on improving convenience, reducing side effects and preserving muscle…

Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 therapy Foundayo (orforglipron) has outperformed oral semaglutide on blood sugar control and weight loss in a Phase 3 trial of adults with Type 2 diabetes. In the Achieve-3 study, Foundayo 17.2 milligrams delivered a 57.1% greater…

Wegovy (semaglutide) 25-milligram tablets have surpassed 3 million prescriptions in just over five months after launching Jan. 5. The milestone equates to roughly one prescription filled every five seconds and makes Wegovy one of the strongest U.S. pharmaceutical launches by…

As researchers continue studying GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro in a range of conditions beyond their approved uses, a growing body of evidence is pointing toward a meaningful role in cancer prevention and outcomes — with some of the…

Cigna will stop covering GLP-1s for weight loss through its own employee health plan July 1, the company confirmed to Becker’s. “We regularly review our health benefits to ensure they remain sustainable, accessible and aligned with the unique needs of…