The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has told multiple media outlets that Medicare Part D plans may also cover anti-obesity drugs like Wigovy.

bothwall street journal and Endpoint news According to a report Thursday, an agency spokesperson said CMS has issued guidance to Medicare Part D plans operated by private insurers and the Food and Drug Administration to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events. The company announced that it stipulates that these drugs that have been approved by the government can be compensated for their intended use. .

Endpoint news They say the move will improve access to medicines for patients with a history of heart disease, who use anti-obesity drugs to prevent recurrence of heart attacks or strokes, and who receive health insurance through the federal government. “There is potential for meaningful expansion,” he said.

The announcement comes a week after the FDA approved a label extension for Novo Nordisk’s popular GLP-1 Wegovy, which is used as a treatment for heart disease.

The decision led many in the industry to speculate about whether CMS would expand coverage for the drug, its sibling Ozempic, and potential rivals Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound. (assuming the latter three undergo labeling expansion).

The four GLP-1 drugs have become widely popular for their weight loss effects, thanks in large part to off-label use by celebrities and social media, which has benefited Novo and Lilly’s respective interests, but It also led to a series of supply shortages. .

But research published in recent months is delving into whether this class of drugs could have further uses for other medical conditions, beyond their ability to reduce weight.

In August, Novo announced that once-weekly 2.4 mg semaglutide treatment (better known by its brand name Wegovy) reduced the risk of major major cardiovascular events (MACE) by 20% in clinical trials.

A few months later, Novo released additional data showing that Wegovy reduced the risk of MACE by 20% in adults with cardiovascular disease who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes. The drug also met secondary endpoints in terms of lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels in patients.

With the research data in hand, the drug company submitted Wegovy to U.S. and EU regulators for expanded labeling.

CMS informed journal It said it had informed the plan of its decision on Wednesday.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.