Regulating a "Miracle Drug": GLP-1 Costs, Access, & Safety

Nearly three-quarters of Americans are overweight or obese, and therefore at higher risk for chronic and debilitating conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegoby, which help people lose weight by reducing their appetite and altering their digestion, have been hailed as a “miracle” with the potential to transform health and reduce costs at the national level. They may also support heart and kidney health.

Demand for GLP-1s is huge and growing, but access is uneven. These drugs can be expensive, topping $1,000 per month without insurance. On the other hand, less expensive options are readily available through loosely regulated direct-to-consumer telehealth companies, raising quality and safety concerns. Although around 12 percent of Americans say they have taken a GLP-1 at one time or another, the long-term effects of using these drugs – as well as the health impacts of discontinuing use – are not well known. 

What should patients, physicians, insurers, policy makers, and researchers know about GLP-1 cost, access, and safety? This timely conversation and expert Q&A will be valuable to anyone with a personal or professional interest in these powerful new drugs.

Agenda

Additional speakers to be announced. Agenda is subject to change.

3:00 pm | Welcome

3:05 | Discussion

• Alex Azar (Moderator), Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
• Jaime Almandoz, Medical Director, Weight Wellness Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center
• Govind Persad, Associate Professor of Law, University of Colorado Law School
• Jeffrey A. Singer, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute
• Tracy Zvenyach, Director, Policy Strategy & Alliances, Obesity Action Coalition

3:50 | Audience Q&A

4:25 | Closing Remarks

4:30 | Adjourn