CVS Health Chooses Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as Preferred Weight-Loss Drug

Published 1 days agoCVS

CVS Health Chooses Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as Preferred Weight-Loss Drug

CVS Health has announced a major shake-up in its drug formulary by designating Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as its preferred weight-loss drug, effective July 1. In this strategic decision, CVS will also exclude Eli Lilly's Zepbound from its standard formulary, according to a report from AP News. The move puts Wegovy and Saxenda, both from Novo Nordisk, in prime positions within the CVS system, potentially impacting patient access to alternative medications.

This formulary shift is accompanied by a pricing strategy from CVS Health that offers Wegovy at a discounted rate of around $500 per month for uninsured customers. This competitive pricing could sway consumer choice in the growing market for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. According to Reuters, this development arrives amid intensified rivalry between Wegovy and Zepbound, both actively competing for market share in this sector.

Despite reporting strong first-quarter financial performance, Eli Lilly experienced a downturn in its stock price following the news of CVS's exclusion of Zepbound from prescription coverage. However, CVS Health appears to be optimistic about its financial future, having raised its full-year 2025 profit forecast—a positive signal as it navigates recovery from earlier challenges.

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