Medicare announces price cuts for 15 prescription drugs, including Ozempic

The U.S. government has negotiated lower prices for Ozempic and 14 other popular prescription drugs, resulting in significant cost reductions for Medicare. This initiative is expected to save Medicare billions in prescription-drug spending, enhancing affordability for beneficiaries.

A recent study has revealed a significant increase in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs, particularly among new mothers, with nearly 2 percent receiving these weight-loss medications by mid-2024. Wegovy, a prominent GLP-1 drug, is being packaged at a Novo Nordisk facility in Hillerod, Denmark.

Novo Nordisk's trials of semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, have failed to demonstrate any cognitive benefits for individuals with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, marking a significant setback for the company's ambitions to expand the drug's applications beyond obesity and diabetes treatment.

Pharmaceutical companies are advancing towards the approval of new obesity pills, with Wegovy and Mounjaro seeking FDA authorization for oral formulations that could replace weekly injections with daily pills. This shift represents a significant change in the delivery method for weight-loss medications, potentially improving patient adherence and comfort.

Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Wegovy has failed to demonstrate any efficacy in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to recent trials. Initial hopes were pinned on the drug's potential to impact cognitive decline positively, but results have shown no significant benefits for patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Novo Nordisk announced that a pill containing the key ingredient from its diabetes and weight-loss drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, did not demonstrate efficacy in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease during two late-stage clinical trials. This outcome raises concerns about the potential of these medications in treating neurodegenerative conditions.