The off-label “cosmetic” use of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy is contributing to global shortages of these drugs, prompting the European Medicines Agency to ask member states and manufacturers to “control and optimize” their use.

The significantly scaled back version of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act is expected to cost the Part D program $1.7bn over 10 years.

The UK company has unveiled a new strategy for 2030 and beyond but analysts' forecasts fall around $15bn short of the company’s own projections.

Individual and small group plans in the commercial insurance market are not seeing ‘a large enough change in clinical indications or practice patterns to warrant a change to the current mapping of GLP-1 drugs,’ final rule states.