Affordable access to GLP-1 obesity medications: strategies to guide market action and policy solutions in the US.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and glucagon-like peptide 1/gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor agonists offer weight reduction and associated health benefits that, if sustained over time, have the potential to markedly improve population health. However, over 40% of US adults have obesity, translating into more than 100 million potential new users of obesity medications. Standing in the way of the major opportunity to improve health for these individuals is the massive and likely ongoing cost of treating such a large segment of the population, even though use of the treatments is estimated to be cost-effective over a lifetime. This paper analyzes the range of emerging market approaches and policy reforms that have the potential to help the broader US health system achieve affordable and equitable access to these medications, and the relative advantages, barriers and possible unintended consequences of each approach. We seek to present policymakers and industry leaders with insights and lessons learned from experts while offering a menu of options for the future that will help all stakeholders play an active part in an innovative future of pricing, coverage and payment for new obesity medications.