Novo Nordisk’s aggressive lobbying aims to revolutionize obesity drug coverage

USA — In a bold bid to reshape the landscape of Medicare coverage, Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical force behind weight loss therapies Ozempic and Wegovy, has strategically engaged its third lobbying firm within just a few months.

The company’s determined efforts seek to elevate its blockbuster drugs to Medicare coverage eligibility, catalyzing a potential transformation in the treatment of obesity and cardiovascular ailments.

Novo Nordisk’s dynamic lobbying strategy is rapidly gaining momentum, emphasizing the urgency of granting Medicare coverage to the burgeoning class of GLP-1 agonist obesity drugs.

The company’s recent enlistment of the Madison Group in July underscores a laser focus on Medicare coverage, particularly within the realm of Part D, as revealed by a newly released lobbying registration form.

Notably, this marks the third lobbying firm brought on board by Novo Nordisk in quick succession, with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer and Subject Matter being enlisted earlier, alongside Public Strategies Washington’s addition last September.

Emboldened by new clinical data, Novo Nordisk’s lobbying efforts are bolstered by promising results from its expansive SELECT study.

The preliminary findings, disclosed recently, unveil a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events through the application of semaglutide injections.

Although the complete study outcomes remain pending publication, these preliminary insights suggest that GLP-1 agonists hold transformative potential in the domains of obesity and cardiovascular disease management.

The regulatory hurdle: Pursuit of coverage

However, achieving insurance coverage for GLP-1 inhibitors remains a formidable challenge, underscoring the next battleground for pharmaceutical innovators.

Presently, Medicare’s inability to cover obesity treatments is rooted in a 2003 legislative decision driven by concerns over potential risks associated with certain medications.

Despite this barrier, policymakers have relentlessly championed the inclusion of obesity treatments within Medicare coverage for over a decade.

In a significant stride, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers rekindled a legislative proposal in July that calls for Medicare to encompass obesity treatments under the aegis of Medicare Part D.

Known as the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, this bill has experienced successive reintroductions since 2012, embodying a steadfast commitment to bridging the coverage gap for obesity management.

With Novo Nordisk throwing its weight behind this initiative, alongside key supporters such as medical trade groups, prominent organizations like Weight Watchers and YMCA, and fellow pharmaceutical stalwart Eli Lilly, the trajectory of obesity treatment coverage takes on a transformative hue.

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