Multiple Tactics Likely Needed To Control Obesity Drug Costs

ICER’s new white paper pointed to estimates that the GLP-1 drugs may result in more than $100bn in annual spending, highlighting the need to rein in costs.

magnifying glass over GLP-1 written on scrap of paper. other paper scraps read "obesity," "semaglutide" "weight loss"

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, particularly Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide), have made a significant difference for patients with obesity, on top of netting blockbuster sales for the two manufacturers. But the enormous market size is proving to be unsustainable for payers, leading the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) to suggest additional ways to handle the costs of the drugs.

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