Obesity Drugs: Greater Weight Loss Linked to Prolonged Use of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy
Portfolio Pulse from Vandana Singh
A study analyzing medical records and insurance claims data showed that 40% of patients prescribed Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy were still using it after a year, indicating higher adherence compared to older medications. The study, published in Obesity, involved 1,911 adults and found that greater weight loss at six months predicted continued use at one year. In contrast, only 13% and 10% of patients remained on Orexigen Therapeutics' Contrave and Vivus's Qsymia, respectively, after a year. The study did not explore why patients stopped taking the drugs but noted insurance coverage and pre-certification criteria as factors affecting adherence. Dr. Hamlet Gasoyan raised concerns about the cost of new anti-obesity drugs and their impact on insurance coverage decisions. Novo Nordisk's stock (NYSE:NVO) was down 0.94% at $98.69.

December 06, 2023 | 2:53 pm
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POSITIVE IMPACT
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy shows high patient adherence, suggesting strong performance and potential revenue growth from prolonged use. However, concerns about cost and insurance coverage could impact future sales.
The high adherence rate to Wegovy indicates patient satisfaction and potential for sustained sales, which is positive for Novo Nordisk. However, the stock's slight decline suggests market concerns about costs and insurance coverage that could temper sales growth.
CONFIDENCE 80
IMPORTANCE 75
RELEVANCE 90