Weight Loss Drug Wegovy Shows Cardiovascular Benefits, But Questions Remain

High Cost and Limited Generalizability of Trial Data May Impact Payer Decisions

The weight loss drug Wegovy, developed by Novo Nordisk, has shown cardiovascular protective benefits, reducing the risk of non-fatal heart attacks by 28%, non-fatal strokes by 7%, and heart-related deaths by 15% in a sub-population with preexisting cardiovascular disease.
However, the absolute risk reduction is small and the data is not generalizable due to the specific high-risk demographic of the trial participants.
Payers are likely to consider the high cost of the drug, the small absolute reduction in risk, and the lack of generalizability when deciding on coverage.
The cardiovascular benefits of Wegovy take longer to emerge and reach a critical level than the weight loss benefits, which may impact payer decisions due to the frequent turnover of enrollees in health plans.
Despite potential side effects and concerns about the high cost, demand for weight loss drugs like Wegovy is growing, impacting various sectors from food and beverage makers to medical device manufacturers.