Keep pulling the thread on CVS Caremark.
CVS Caremark is restoring coverage for the weight-loss drug Zepbound, reversing a previous formulary decision.
GLP-1 manufacturers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk initially charged prices in the U.S. that were 70% to 80% higher than in Europe.
The NIH RECOVER initiative is including GLP-1s as one of the initial agents for clinical trials investigating treatments for long COVID, with enrollment starting in the summer.
Data presented at the 2026 ASCO annual meeting suggested GLP-1s could substantially reduce cancer progression and lower mortality risk in lung, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers.
A new program, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, is set to cover these drugs from July through the end of 2027, with Medicare funding the cost.
A class-action lawsuit was filed against CVS Caremark after it removed Zepbound from its formulary, alleging ERISA violations.
Compounding pharmacies were permitted to produce equivalent versions of GLP-1 drugs due to a declared shortage of the name-brand products.
GLP-1 drugs are not expensive or complicated to manufacture, which enables compounding pharmacies to create similar products from raw ingredients.
According to IQVIA data, prescriptions for compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs increased between February 2025, when the official shortage ended, and October 2025.
Early research suggests that GLP-1 drugs may have an anti-addictive effect.
Early research indicates a potential therapeutic benefit of GLP-1 drugs for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussions.
Some studies have flagged potential psychiatric side effects associated with GLP-1 drugs, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.