BioCentury
ARTICLE | Strategy

Paying to lose

Efficacy beyond weight loss key to reimbursement for new obesity drugsHow doctors think Belviq, Qysmia will be used in subgroups of obese patients

August 6, 2012 7:00 AM UTC

Now that FDA has approved two obesity drugs, the next challenge is getting payers on board, as only about 30% of prescriptions for weight loss drugs are currently reimbursed.

The latest to cross the finish line, Vivus Inc., is banking on the efficacy of Qsymia phentermine/topiramate and its REMS to help it develop a prescriber base and eventually convince payers of the drug's value...