Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) CEO Mike Doustdar said the company aims to reach about 15 million new patients when Medicare begins covering obesity treatments later this year.
However, the CEO said that the Medicare coverage for obesity treatments is unlikely to expand quickly, noting that expecting rapid access would be unrealistic. Doustdar pointed to the slow uptake among commercially insured eligible patients as a sign that adoption will likely take time.
He also said that the company is currently negotiating with the government to finalize the exact timing for the opening, including the specific month and week.
GLP-1 Price Cuts, Medicare Expansion
On the newly launched TrumpRx website, Wegovy pills are listed at $149, roughly an 89% discount to prevailing market prices, while Wegovy and Ozempic pens start at $199 each. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound is priced from $299 per vial, reflecting an estimated 72% discount.
The deals will also expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for the treatments starting in mid-2026. Previous reports suggested that Medicare will begin covering approved injectable and oral GLP-1 obesity treatments for the first time, with patients required to pay a $50 copay.
Novo Faces GLP-1 Pressure, As Lilly Surges
On the other hand, Eli Lilly expects revenue of $80–$83 billion, surpassing Wall Street’s $77.62 billion forecast, with the midpoint implying 25% growth.
When asked how Novo plans to narrow the gap, Doustdar said one approach is “to do better on the pill.”
Benzinga’s Edge Rankings place Novo Nordisk in the 77th percentile for quality and the 31st percentile for value, reflecting its mixed performance. Benzinga’s screener allows you to compare NVO’s performance with its peers.
Price Action: Over the past year, Novo Nordisk stock declined 40.41%, as per data from Benzinga Pro. On Wednesday, the stock fell 0.77% to close at $48.74.
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