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Digital health company Noom on Thursday announced it will offer a compounded GLP-1 drug as part of a new weight loss product that starts at $149.  The treatment will feature compounded semaglutide, the same active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic. Noom has offered weight loss programs for years, and consumers can already try to access those branded medications through its platform.  But Noom is the latest in a string of digital health companies to offer compounded versions of the medications as a cheaper alternative for consumers while demand for weight loss and diabetes drugs spikes. Hims & Hers and Sesame have launched similar programs in recent months — and the market for low-cost options has grown more competitive.   “Our position is that more supply, especially at a reasonable price, is needed right now, not less,” Noom CEO Geoff Cook told CNBC in an interview.  Wegovy and Ozempic belong to a highly popular class of medications called GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to tamp down a patient’s appetite and regulate their blood sugar. The compounded versions are custom-made alternatives to the brand drugs, and they can be produced when brand-name treatments are in shortage. Compounded GLP-1 medications are typically much cheaper than their branded counterparts. Wegovy and Ozempic both cost roughly $1,000 per month before insurance. Most insurance plans cover GLP-1s when they are used to treat diabetes, but coverage of the weight loss drugs is less widespread. Spiking demand can also make it difficult for many patients to find the branded treatments. Cook said consumers will pay $149 for their first month in Noom’s program and $279 for the following months as the dose of their medication increases.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not review the safety and efficacy of…

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Filed under: News - @ September 12, 2024 12:22 pm