Pharm-to-table Semaglutide, Florida Digs Into Pharmacy Data, & Transparency Reports Fall Short

Hey all,

Happy thursday! It was interesting to see Novo jump into the pharm-to-table prescription game (hat tip to Halle Tecco for coining that phrase). I was surprised it took them so long to join Lilly, I wonder if they decided to hold off on the launch until compounded Semaglutide wasn’t available. Enjoy the run down!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(Reuters) Novo Nordisk to Sell Wegovy for $499 a Month

Novo Nordisk announced it will offer its weight-loss drug Wegovy at a discounted price of $499 per month for cash-paying U.S. customers, responding to increasing competition in the obesity drug market. This move follows Eli Lilly’s recent price cuts on its rival drug Zepbound, as both pharmaceutical giants aim to undercut compounding pharmacies that have been selling cheaper, unauthorized versions of their medications. The FDA’s recent decision to remove Wegovy from its shortage list puts additional pressure on these pharmacies, some of which are now suing the agency. Novo Nordisk’s new pricing strategy includes all dosage strengths and home delivery through its NovoCare Pharmacy program. Full Article

(The New York Times) Florida’s Prescription Data Demand Raises Privacy Concerns

Florida’s insurance regulator has requested detailed prescription drug data, including patient names and doctors, sparking concerns about privacy violations. While the state claims it needs the information to ensure compliance with a 2023 law regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and drug prices, experts warn the request may exceed federal privacy allowances and could be used to monitor sensitive treatments, such as reproductive and transgender care. Critics, including large employers and legal experts, argue the demand is overly intrusive and risks patient data security. Full Article

(Drug Channels) Transparency vs. Reality: Troubling Lessons from PBM Disclosure Laws

Adam Fein dives into recent analyses of state-mandated disclosures on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) rebates and fees. They reveal that transparency laws often fail to provide reliable, actionable data. Reports from Texas, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington highlight major inconsistencies, self-reported figures lacking verification, and loopholes that obscure financial flows—suggesting that these regulations create more bureaucracy than clarity. Similarly, federal efforts under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 have yielded aggregated, non-specific data that do little to illuminate PBM practices. Full Article.