Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Novo Nordisk, Hims & Hers Reportedly End Obesity Drug Feud, Aim To Partner
Bloomberg: Novo And Hims End Feud, Will Sell Obesity Drugs Together
Novo Nordisk A/S plans to sell its weight-loss drugs on Hims & Hers Health Inc.’s platform, according to a person familiar with the matter, ending a highly public feud between the two companies that spiraled into a legal battle last month. Novo and Hims plan to announce a new partnership as soon as Monday, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two companies had a similar agreement last year, but Novo abruptly scrapped it after Hims refused to stop marketing and selling copycat medications. (Muller, 3/7)
Bloomberg: Generic Ozempic Could Cost Less Than $3 A Month, Study Shows
Generic versions of Novo Nordisk A/S’s hit shots Ozempic and Wegovy could be sold for under $3 a month, a new study showed, underscoring their potential to unlock global access to powerful weight-loss drugs. Generic injectable semaglutide, the main ingredient in both blockbuster drugs, could cost $28 to $140 a year, according to researchers at the University of Liverpool. By contrast, Novo’s US list price is $1,027.51 for Ozempic and $1,349 for Wegovy, though it has pledged to cut both to $675 on Jan. 1. Direct-to-consumer prices are lower, at $349 a month for most doses of Wegovy. (Kresge, 3/6)
In related news —
The Washington Post: GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic Can Raise Bone And Tendon Injury Risk, Large Study Suggests
The miracle of rapid weight loss has always come with fine print. Until recently, it read mostly like a list of digestive complaints — stomachaches, constipation — generally unpleasant but tolerable and rarely severe. New research presented this month suggests the drugs may affect something more structural: bone. In an analysis of nearly 150,000 patients, researchers found that people taking GLP-1 medications faced a significantly higher risk of skeletal disorders. (Eunjung Cha, 3/8)
Other pharma and tech updates —
Bloomberg: Agilent Buys Medical Instruments Maker Biocare For $950 Million
Agilent Technologies Inc. agreed to acquire privately held Biocare Medical, which makes instruments and materials used in cancer research, in an all-cash transaction valued at $950 million. Biocare will become part of the Agilent Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets Group, according to a statement reviewed by Bloomberg News. The deal is expected to be accretive earnings per share about 12 months after it closes, and will “accelerate innovation and support long-term value creation for our shareholders,” Agilent Chief Executive Officer Padraig McDonnell said in the statement. (Baker and Davis, 3/9)
The Washington Post: The Surprising Way Breast Cancer Screenings Could Reveal Heart Disease
A new study finds AI can potentially detect artery calcification in routine mammograms, helping identify women at risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death. (Johnson, 3/9)
