CVS Caremark to Place Wegovy as Preferred GLP-1 for Weight Loss

Effective July 1, 2025, CVS Caremark will place Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg on its largest commercial template formularies as the preferred GLP-1 medication for patients with obesity.

Previously, CVS Caremark included several weight loss drugs, including Saxenda, Qsymia, Wegovy and Zepbound, in a preferred tier 2 position, according to a review that Formulary Watch conducted in October 2024 of coverage for weight loss drugs.

Related: Are PBMs Putting GLP-1 Drugs on Their Formularies?

CVS Caremark also announced that PBM will provide additional lifestyle clinical support as part of the CVS Weight Management program, company officials said

Separately, Novo Nordisk said it will continue to work with CVS to identify additional ways to expand access to Wegovy for its customers. Novo Nordisk has been expanding the options available for accessing Wegovy as well as lowering the cost.

Earlier this week, Novo Nordisk announced that patients working with Hims & Hers Health, LifeMD and Ro can now access Wegovy injection 2.4 mg through CenterWell Pharmacy, which is the dispensing pharmacy managing prescription fulfillment and delivery for NovoCare Pharmacy.

Novo Nordisk launched NovoCarePharmacy in March to provide direct-to-patient shipments of all dose strengths of Wegovy at a price of $499 per month. Additionally, Novo Nordisk updated the Wegovy savings program to allow patients to access the lowered cost of Wegovy at retail pharmacies.

Previously, Novo Nordisk offered a $650 per month direct-ship option for cash-paying patients.

Wegovy was approved to treat obesity in June 2021, and it is available as an injection in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg of the once-weekly, single-dose pen. Its list price is $1,349, and the company said that 90% of patients have a co-pay of $0 to $25 per month.

The demand for GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) for weight loss is increasing. A PwC survey in October 2024 found that 8% to 10% of Americans are currently taking GLP-1 drugs, and 30% to 35% of Americans are interested in using them.

Insurers have struggled to provide fair access for obesity drugs, according to the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review’s (ICER) fourth annual Barriers to Fair Access assessment, which was released in December 2024. Many health plans and PBMs have policies in place for offering access to weight-loss drugs, but clients can opt out of that coverage.

Last year, KFF found in its annual survey of employer health benefits that just 18% of companies with 200 or more employees cover GLP-1 agonists when used for weight loss. Of those companies that do provide coverage, 24% require employees to meet with a dietitian or other professional. About 8% require employees to enroll in a lifestyle or weight loss program before approving a GLP-1, and 10% require employees to enroll in a lifestyle or weight loss program while taking these drugs.