Latest news with #GLP-1s
India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
US employers to cut health benefits amid soaring weight-loss drug costs: Survey
More than half of large US employers are planning to scale back healthcare benefits in 2026, as rising costs — driven largely by expensive weight-loss and speciality drugs — strain corporate budgets, according to a new survey by consulting firm survey, released on Wednesday, found that 51 per cent of companies with 500 or more employees intend to increase cost-sharing, such as higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums --- that's a notable jump from the 45 per cent of employers who said they would take similar measures for dramatic rise in popularity — and cost—of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has become a key pressure point, the consultancy said. "More clients are saying ... 'I don't know how much longer we can sustain covering these medications'," said Alysha Fluno, a pharmacy innovation leader at Mercer, in an some employers have covered GLP-1s hoping for long-term health savings, rising prices are forcing a rethink: "Some employers facing big cost increases in 2026 may feel this coverage is out of reach," Fluno Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound are listed at USD 1086 and USD 1059, respectively, but many patients pay less through their health to the survey, prescription drug costs jumped 8% last year. Mercer has forecast a 5.8 per cent rise in overall health benefit costs for 2025. Employers are also eyeing alternatives to traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), according to such as CVS Caremark, Cigna's Express Scripts, and UnitedHealthcare's Optum Rx act as middlemen between drug companies and consumers. They negotiate volume discounts and fees with drug manufacturers on behalf of employers and health plans, create lists of medications that are covered by insurance, and reimburse pharmacies for say they take an undisclosed cut of the discounts they receive rather than sharing them with patients and survey found 40 per cent of employers are considering alternative contracting models for their prescription medicine benefits, such as those that price drugs based on their cost to the pharmacy.- EndsWith inputs from Reuters
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
New link between ‘King Kong' of fat jabs and breast cancer, discovered – are you affected?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT seems every week there's a new claim about what fat jabs can cure - beyond banishing that belly. The so-called skinny jabs - that were initially designed as treatment for type 2 diabetes, could lower the risk of breast cancer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mounjaro has been dubbed the 'King Kong' of fat jabs for its powerful weight-loss effects Credit: Getty 3 Scientists are exploring how this jab could help prevent cancer Credit: Getty Since exploding onto the weight loss scene, GLP-1 drugs have been found to come with extra beneficial side effects, according to various studies. They range from lowering the risk of heart disease, dementia, lung disease, depression as well as increasing libido and helping to combat addiction to booze and drugs. And now, scientists in the US have found another pro to the seemingly "miracle" drugs, specifially tirzepatide, the ingredient behind Mounjaro, may "significantly" slow the growth of breast cancer tumour. That said, the experiments were conducted on mice and so the experts cautioned further research was necessary to confirm their findings. The authors from the University of Michigan also didn't speculate on why the drug, nicknamed the 'King Kong' of all fat jabs for its effectiveness, might lower a patient's risk of cancer It comes as breakthrough research in May revealed that GLP-1s could help ward off up to dozens types of cancer, including breast. "While these are very preliminary results, they suggest that this new anti-obesity drug may also have a beneficial impact on breast cancer outcomes," study author, Amanda Kucinskas, said. For the study, researchers tracked 16 obese mice with breast cancer tumors, which were made obese by feeding them a high-fat diet starting at nine weeks old. When the mice reached 32 weeks, middle age for a mouse, they were split into two groups. One group received tirzepatide injections every other day for 16 weeks, while the other was given a placebo. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons Throughout the treatment, the team monitored the mice's weight and tumor size twice weekly. Those treated with tirzepatide lost about 20 per cent of their body weight, mirroring weight loss seen in humans taking the drug Mounjaro over long periods. Additionally, these mice developed noticeably smaller tumors. The study highlighted a strong connection between reduced body weight and smaller tumors, with fat mass playing a key role in tumor growth. Most of the fat loss came from the body's main fat stores, which is called adipose tissue. What are the signs of breast cancer? BREAST cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. The majority of women who get it are over 50, but younger women and, in rare cases, men can also get breast cancer. If it's treated early enough, breast cancer can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body. Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue. Most breast lumps aren't cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also speak to your GP if you notice any of the following: a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood) a lump or swelling in either of your armpits dimpling on the skin of your breasts a rash on or around your nipple a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast Source: NHS These findings were unveiled this week at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual conference held in San Francisco. This research supports earlier findings shared at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference in May, which suggested GLP-1 drugs might reduce the risk of 14 obesity-related cancers, including breast cancer, in diabetic patients. In that study, US researchers found that patients taking GLP-1 therapies had a 7 per cent lower chance of developing obesity-related cancers compared to those on DPP-4 inhibitors. When accounting for overall health benefits, the GLP-1 group was also 8 per cent less likely to die over a decade. 3
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Healthy Returns: Chinese obesity drug emerges as a potential rival to Eli Lilly's Zepbound
Another potential competitor to blockbuster obesity treatments from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk just showed positive data – but this time, it's from China. An experimental weekly injection developed by Chinese drugmaker Hengrui Pharma and its U.S.-based partner, Kailera Therapeutics, succeeded in a late-stage trial in China, putting the drugmakers on track to seek approval there. Kailera is among several companies, such as Merck, Novo Nordisk and Regeneron, that have tapped the Chinese market in search of a drug that could win a slice of the booming weight loss drug market. In May 2024, Kailera licensed rights outside of the Greater China region to multiple experimental drugs from Hengrui in return for more than $100 million in upfront and near-term payments, a 20% equity stake and nearly $6 billion in future milestones. Here's how the drug, dubbed HRS9531, performed in the trial: It helped patients lose nearly 18% of their body weight on average after 48 weeks, which is more than 16% greater weight loss than those on a placebo saw. Almost 9 in 10 people who received the injection lost at least 5% of their body weight, and 44.4% of patients achieved at least 20% weight loss, according to a release from the companies. There was no plateau in weight loss at 48 weeks. The companies didn't disclose specific safety data or how well patients tolerated the drug, only saying those results were consistent with previous data on the treatment and other GLP-1s. Most adverse events from the injection were gastrointestinal-related and mild to moderate in severity, the companies said. Hengrui will file an approval application for the drug in China. Meanwhile, Kailera will start global studies that use higher doses and keep patients on the treatment for longer, the startup's CEO Ron Renaud said in the release. It will likely still take several years before HRS9531 enters the market, particularly in the U.S. and other nations outside of China. But the drug's results appear to be promising, and position it as a potential competitor to Eli Lilly's weekly weight loss injection Zepbound. Both drugs work by activating two naturally produced hormones in the body: glucagon-like peptide-1, known as GLP-1, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP. The combination is said to slow the emptying of the stomach, making people feel full for longer and suppressing appetite by slowing hunger signals in the brain. Across two phase three trials enrolling roughly 3,000 adults with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, Zepbound helped patients lose an average of up to 21% of their body weight over 72 weeks. It's difficult to directly compare results from different clinical trials, especially since the latest results on HRS9531 were only from more than 500 patients. But the drug still achieved significant weight loss over 48 weeks, raising hopes about its potential over a longer period of time. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk's weekly injection Wegovy only targets GLP-1. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at Well folks, after a long saga, Anne Wojcicki has officially regained control of the embattled genetic testing company 23andMe. Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe and served as CEO until the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March. Her new nonprofit, TTAM Research Institute, has completed its acquisition of the Personal Genome Service and Research Services business lines of 23andMe, the company announced on Monday. "As part of TTAM, 23andMe is continuing to operate and provide customers with personalized DNA testing and research services," the company said in a release. "TTAM is committed to providing customers with choice and transparency with their data, including the option to change their decision on whether to participate in research." TTAM is an acronym for the first letters of 23andMe, according to The Wall Street Journal. 23andMe rocketed into the mainstream with at-home DNA testing kits that gave customers insight into their family histories and genetic profiles. But the five-time CNBC Disruptor 50 company struggled to generate recurring revenue and stand up viable research and therapeutics businesses after going public. When it became clear that 23andMe's financials were shaky, Wojcicki submitted several proposals to take the company private while she was still its chief executive. Those plans were unsuccessful, and she ultimately had to compete against other prospective buyers in a bankruptcy auction. And, of course, there were some unexpected twists. In May, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced it would purchase most of 23andMe's assets for $256 million after it came out on top during the bankruptcy auction. But Wojcicki submitted a separate $305 million bid through TTAM and pushed to reopen the auction. A month later, she did just that, and TTAM announced that it had successfully outbid Regeneron. "I am thrilled that TTAM Research Institute will be able to continue the mission of 23andMe to help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome," Wojcicki said in a June statement. Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Employers are scrambling to cut costs and health care benefits are on the chopping block
Good morning! Health care costs have been rising for years, and finding a way to shoulder that burden and keep benefit prices low has been top of mind for employers. But companies are reaching their limit, and becoming more willing to push costs onto their employees, according to a new report. Around 51% of companies say they're likely or very likely to make design changes to their plans in 2026 that will place a larger burden on employees, according to a new study from HR consulting firm Mercer. That's up from 45% last year. Their methods are expected to include raising deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for employees. Health care costs for workers are already up. The average costs of those benefits are expected to grow by 5.8% this year, up from 4.5% last year, according to the report. That's after accounting for any cost-reduction strategies, without which employers estimate that prices could actually rise around 8% this year. This increase in health care costs is largely due to an increase in prescription drug prices. Well over half of employers (61%) are now actively looking for some type of alternative to typical pharmacy benefit contracts. The increased popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, which can cost around $1,000 per month per patient, is also contributing to higher benefit costs. Most organizations (77%) ranked managing the costs of these drugs as their highest priority when it comes to pharmacy benefits. But while the employers said they were more likely to add the coverage for 2025 than drop it, it's unclear if that will be the case next year, according to the report. 'While the trend over the past couple of years has been to add coverage for GLP-1s approved for weight-loss, some employers facing large cost increases in 2026 may feel this coverage is out of reach,' says Alysha Fluno, pharmacy innovation leader at Mercer. 'Employers are weighing the immediate costs of covering these drugs against the potential for generating savings down the road once their workforce's health improves.' In the future, employers may require more documentation from employees who use GLP-1s, increase the eligibility requirements, or limit the number of providers and pharmacies for the medication, according to the report. 'While short-term cost containment actions might be needed to address current budget realities, we also see some employers using longer-term strategies, such as offering narrow network plans, that emphasize high-quality, high-value care,' says Ed Lehman, Mercer's U.S. health and benefits leader. 'These strategies may improve health outcomes or make health care more affordable for employees.' Brit This story was originally featured on Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Many US employers plan to pare health benefits as weight-loss spending soars
New York: More than half of large U.S. employers plan to scale back healthcare benefits next year as rising costs from weight-loss and specialty drugs squeeze budgets, according to a new survey released by consulting firm Mercer on Wednesday. Among employers with 500 or more workers, 51% said they planned to increase cost-sharing in 2026, including raising deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs for workers. That is up from 45% of large employers who said they would increase cost-sharing for 2025. Concern over the cost of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has surged, with 77% of employers naming them a top issue, the consultancy said. "More clients are saying ... 'I don't know how much longer we can sustain covering these medications'," said Alysha Fluno, a pharmacy innovation leader at Mercer, in an interview. While some employers have covered GLP-1s hoping for long-term health savings, rising prices are forcing a rethink: "Some employers facing big cost increases in 2026 may feel this coverage is out of reach," Fluno said. Greater competition in the weight-loss drug market in coming years will give pharmacy benefit managers more negotiating power with drugmakers and drive meaningful cost reductions, said Fluno. Novo's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound are listed at $1086 and $1059, respectively, but many patients pay less through their health plans. Prescription drug costs jumped 8% last year, according to the survey. Mercer has forecast a 5.8% rise in overall health benefit costs for 2025. Employers are also eyeing alternatives to traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), according to Mercer. PBMs such as CVS Caremark, Cigna's Express Scripts and UnitedHealthcare's Optum Rx act as middlemen between drug companies and consumers. They negotiate volume discounts and fees with drug manufacturers on behalf of employers and health plans, create lists of medications that are covered by insurance, and reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions. Drugmakers say they take an undisclosed cut of the discounts they receive rather than sharing them with patients and payers. Regulatory scrutiny and calls for transparency are fueling interest in new models and emerging PBMs, with 34% of employers considering a switch. The survey found 40% of employers are considering alternative contracting models for their prescription medicine benefits, such as those that price drugs based on the wholesale price that retail pharmacies pay for them. Regulators have criticized the three largest pharmacy benefit managers for steering patients toward more expensive drugs and inflating prices to generate revenue gains, an accusation that the industry denies. California pension fund CalPERS, the second-largest public purchaser of health benefits in the U.S., announced on Tuesday that Caremark would replace UnitedHealth's Optum Rx as the fund's PBM in 2026. CalPERS said its five-year contract with Caremark requires the PBM to boost transparency and oversight.
