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Or sign-in if you have an account.Lilly and Novo have been working overtime to find creative solutions to fill the gap, running studies to show the drugs’ broader benefits beyond weight loss. Photo by Ole/Adobe StockThe weight-loss drug boom is beginning to show signs of a slowdown as employers and insurers pull back on coverage, signalling the market could be entering a more restrained phase after years of breakneck expansion.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorIn the past few months, growth in prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss like Novo Nordisk A/S’ Wegovy and Eli Lilly & Co.’s Zepbound have moderated, according to Cigna Group chief executive Brian Evanko. The insurer’s unit that manages drug benefits has noted coverage declines and slower utilization growth compared to prior periods, executives said during an earnings call with Wall Street analysts Thursday.Lilly’s shares fell 3.8 per cent at 2:40 p.m. in New York, while Novo’s American depositary receipts were down more than one per cent.FP Work touches on HR strategy, labour economics, office culture, technology and more.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Work will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe Cigna comments underscore the challenges facing drugmakers as they fight to expand access to their medications. While demand remains high, insurance companies and employers have decried the cost of covering the drugs long term. That’s led some health plans to drop coverage or make the obesity treatments more difficult to get.The comments from Cigna executives about GLP-1 coverage and utilization apply to health plans that use the company’s pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts, to handle their prescription drug coverage.The trend may not end anytime soon. Cigna, for one, expects the slowdown to continue for the remainder of the year, chief financial officer Ann Dennison said.About six per cent of large employers already dropped coverage for weight-loss drugs in 2026, according to a recent survey from consulting firm Mercer, reflecting mounting concerns about the medications’ long-term budget impact. Another five per cent said they’re planning to drop coverage in 2027. More than one-in-four employers tightened utilization controls this year, or plan to in 2027, Mercer said.Cigna has stopped covering Wegovy and Zepbound for its own employees because of the cost, Evanko said on the call.“Should drug manufacturers decide to meaningfully discount the net prices they offer, we may revisit this in the future,” he said.Meanwhile, Lilly and Novo have been working overtime to find creative solutions to fill the gap. That includes running studies to show the drugs’ broader benefits beyond weight loss, which might make them more attractive to insurers.Both companies already offer steep discounts to patients who pay out of pocket. Lilly also has a newer program for certain employers that allows them to access the drugs at lower prices. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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