The early March approval of a new cardioprotective claim for Novo Nordisk A/S’s obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide) could mean up to four million users of the drug in the Medicare Part D program, the company noted during its 2 May earnings call.
Key Takeaways
-
The Medicare Part D market for Wegovy as a cardioprotective agent for beneficiaries who are obese or overweight is about 4 million, according to Novo.
-
Payers worry that demand will be much higher now that the drug has some access to the Part D market and are developing strict reimbursement criteria
After the US Food and Drug Administration approved the claim on 8 March, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued guidance to Medicare Part D plans stating that although obesity drugs are excluded from Part D coverage by law, Wegovy can be covered for the CV claim
