Our expensive obesity drugs are worth it, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly argue in raft of studies

DALLAS — Here at ObesityWeek, one of the largest conferences on obesity, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are displaying more than a dozen studies that together carry the message: Our blockbuster weight loss treatments will be worth it for society.

But experts point out that much of this company-funded research does not include the cost of the drugs themselves, which sell at more than $10,000 per year in the U.S. and are meant to be taken indefinitely.

The two major pharmaceutical companies have seen interest skyrocket for their GLP-1-based drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, a new generation of medications that can cut substantial amounts of weight. But insurance plans have been slow to grant wide access to obesity treatments, concerned that the vast amount of people eligible to take them, along with their high price, could lead to significant financial strain.

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