Weight loss and diabetes may just be the beginning for drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound as reports increasingly suggest they may have far-reaching benefits for treating conditions as diverse as heart disease, liver disease, Parkinson’s, sleep apnea and addiction, sparking research among firms competing in pharma’s latest gold rush.
The new drug is part of the second generation of weight-loss pills under development by companies including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that will offer patients a more convenient alternative to injections.
The suits are set to target the three biggest PBMs, UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx, CVS Health's Caremark and Cigna's Express Scripts, which are all owned by or connected to health insurers.