Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 14 hrs ago
Drugmakers target employers with weight-loss medicines as a staff benefit
Drugmakers Lilly and Novo Nordisk are courting German employers to pay for weight-loss injections for staff.
They have so far failed to secure coverage for the medicines from Germany’s statutory health insurers.
The companies want to sign employer deals before more competitors enter the market from 2028.
One in five adults in Germany has chronic obesity, and more than half are overweight, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Obesity is linked to annual costs of €113 billion to the German economy, including costs associated with employee absences.
A first German scientific study found a specific benefit for employers, but the proposed workplace benefit also has drawbacks.
The next step is whether companies agree to offer the medicines to employees; the sources do not say which firms will do so.
Lilly and Novo Nordisk are approaching German employers about offering weight-loss medicines to staff as a benefit.
The companies have so far failed to secure coverage for their medicines through Germany’s statutory health insurers.
They want to sign company contracts before more competitors enter the weight-loss market from 2028.
A first German scientific study cited by Handelsblatt found a specific benefit for employers, though the idea has several drawbacks.
Obesity-related costs to the German economy are estimated at €113 billion a year.
- Who
- Drugmakers Lilly and Novo Nordisk are seeking employer buyers.
- What
- They want companies to provide employees with weight-loss injections as a free benefit.
- When
- They are seeking contracts before further competitors enter the market from 2028.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Obesity causes substantial economic costs, including costs associated with employee absences.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lilly and Novo Nordisk are seeking company contracts before more competitors enter the weight-loss market.
Handelsblatt reported on the drugmakers’ efforts to approach German employers.
- Companies
- Lilly and Novo Nordisk
- Potential benefit
- Weight-loss injections provided free to employees
- Market timing
- More competitors expected from 2028
- Obesity prevalence
- One in five German adults has chronic obesity
- Economic cost
- €113 billion annually