STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Wegovy supplies, Biogen ditching Aduhelm, and more
Rise and shine, everyone. The middle of the week is upon us. Have heart, though. You made it this far, so why not hang on for another couple of days, yes? And what better way to make the time fly than to keep busy. So grab that cup of stimulation and get started. Our flavor today is glazed doughnut — sweets for the sweet, you know? Meanwhile, do keep us in mind if you hear anything interesting. We hope you have a simply smashing day and emerge unscathed. …
Novo Nordisk has begun to increase availability of its blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy for new patients in the U.S. after massive demand and a supply crunch had led it to limit doses last May, STAT writes. The announcement concerning the lower-dose starter product came as the company reported 2023 sales rose 36% and operating profit grew 44% at constant exchange rates, driven by massive sales of Wegovy and Ozempic, used to treat diabetes. Novo also projected double-digit growth in sales and operating profit for 2024. Overall, Novo saw 154% growth in obesity drug revenue in 2023, driven by sales of its older obesity drug Saxenda and the launch of Wegovy in additional countries.
In response to concerns over multi-million-dollar price tags for new gene therapies for sickle cell disease, the U.S. government announced a long-awaited “access model” designed to blunt the cost that state Medicaid programs would pay for these curative treatments, STAT says. Two therapies recently approved by health regulators cost $2.2 million and $3.1 million, respectively, and raised alarms over the ability of financially strapped state Medicaid programs to absorb the expense. Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 Americans. Estimates vary, but the federal government believes as many as 60% of people with sickle cell disease rely on Medicaid for health care coverage.
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