GLP-1 Drugs Continue to Surge in Popularity and Cost: Recent Reports Highlight Dangers for Healthcare Systems and the Federal Government

On Wednesday, two reports were released that showed a significant increase in spending on GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reported that GLP-1 treatments contributed significantly to the overall increase in drug spending by healthcare providers last year. Specifically, expenditures on Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity, doubled to $38.6 billion, making it the top-selling medicine in 2023.

Another report from the health policy research organization KFF examined the impact of the recent approval of Wegovy for preventing cardiovascular complications. While Medicare typically does not cover drugs for weight loss purposes, the approval of Wegovy for reducing heart risks means that the federal payer can now cover the drug. Researchers conservatively estimate that Medicare could spend $2.8 billion in a year on Wegovy alone as a result of this new approval. These findings indicate that costs for GLP-1 drugs are likely to continue to rise for both healthcare systems and the federal government in the coming years.