Wegovy vs Zepbound - After the Bridge program ends on which drug is more likely to be picked up by Part D insurer?

The After the Bridge program, a temporary transition plan that allows patients to continue receiving Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tugliatide) from their original manufacturer-sponsored programs, is set to end [1]. Following this, patients may be required to switch to a commercially available version of their medication, which is often more expensive.

Wegovy, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, has a generic equivalent in development, although this does not currently exist. When a generic version of Wegovy (semaglutide) becomes available, it may become a more affordable option for some patients [2].

In contrast, Zepbound (tirzepatide), also a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for type 2 diabetes treatment, has not yet had a generic equivalent developed and it may not be more likely to picked up by the PartD insurers in the near future [1].


When it comes to Part D insurers, the cost of medication will be a primary factor in determining whether a particular option is more likely to be adopted by them. Given that Wegovy will have a generic equivalent available, it is more likely to be chosen over Zepbound by Part D insurers due to its potential lower cost. According to DrugPatentWatch.com [3], the generic version of semaglutide may be cheaper than Zepbound (tirzepatide), thus more attractive to insurers.


Sources:

1. https://www.uchealth.org/docs/default-source/after-the-bridge-program
2. https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/
3. https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patents/2023-14-01-semaglutide-oral-extended-release