Peter Loftus

Novo Nordisk got the regulatory green light to begin promoting that its popular anti-obesity drug Wegovy also boosts heart health–a claim that could increase pressure on [reluctant employers](https://www.wsj/health/healthcare/weight-loss-drugs-employer-insurance-dbe19458) and insurers to pay for the drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the Danish company’s request to add to the drug’s prescribing label the results from a [study released last year showing](https://www.wsj/health/pharma/wegovy-weight-loss-drug-heart-attack-stroke-570f435e) that Wegovy reduced the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths by 20%. Such label additions – for Wegovy and perhaps eventually, its rival weight-loss drug [Zepbound from Eli Lilly](https://www.wsj/health/pharma/eli-lillys-mounjaro-approved-for-weight-loss-in-the-u-s-d9589d84) – are pivotal to the manufacturers’ efforts to convince U.S. insurers to cover the medicines.

Amazon Pharmacy will fill prescriptions for the weight-loss drug ordered through maker Eli Lilly’s direct-to-consumer service.

The newly approved drug, which treats potentially fatal pulmonary arterial hypertension, is estimated to ring up as much as $7.5 billion in yearly sales.

The newly approved drug, which treats potentially fatal pulmonary arterial hypertension, is estimated to ring up as much as $7.5 billion in yearly sales.

Certain antibiotics, allergy treatments, chemotherapy drugs and popular drugs used for weight loss such as Ozempic are among hundreds of medicines now in short supply.

A new study is boosting stock in drugmaker Eli Lilly—and knocking the shares of some medical-device makers. Eli Lilly’s drug Zepbound significantly reduced the severity of sleep apnea in patients in a new study, while also helping them lose weight. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that blocks or restricts breathing during sleep, and obesity often contributes to it.

TikTok, Facebook and Instagram are supplanting physicians as the authorities on weight-loss drugs, but many posts don't provide a complete picture of the hazards.

Sales of a groundbreaking new Alzheimer’s disease treatment from Eisai and Biogen are finally accelerating, after a sluggish launch last year. Biogen said Wednesday that the number of patients taking the drug, Leqembi, has increased nearly 2 ½ times the levels at the end of 2023. It’s the first drug proven to slow the worsening of Alzheimer’s, but sales got off to a slow start because hospitals took longer than expected to set up systems to deliver the infused drug to patients.

Sales of a groundbreaking new Alzheimer’s disease treatment from Eisai and Biogen are finally accelerating, after a sluggish launch last year. Biogen said Wednesday that the number of patients taking the drug, Leqembi, has increased nearly 2 ½ times the levels at the end of 2023. It’s the first drug proven to slow the worsening of Alzheimer’s, but sales got off to a slow start because hospitals took longer than expected to set up systems to deliver the infused drug to patients.

Shares of U.S. drugmaker Merck are up nearly 4% in recent trading after the company said its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda fueled a higher-than-expected increase in quarterly sales and earnings. Merck also raised and narrowed its forecast range for full-year sales and earnings. Sales of Keytruda, the world’s top-selling drug, rose 20% to $6.9 billion for the first quarter.