(Reuters) – Health and wellness products retailer Vitamin Shoppe said on Wednesday that subscribers to its telemedicine service will have access to weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Munjaro and Libersus.
Monthly drug subscriptions for Whole Health Rx, the company’s virtual healthcare platform, start at an introductory price of $219 and no insurance is required, the company said in a statement.
Why is it important?
The subscription will cover the cost of the drug, but its huge popularity and high price will likely put it out of reach for many patients next year.
GLP-1 drugs, originally developed to treat diabetes, have been shown in clinical trials to help patients lose 15% to 20% of their weight by suppressing food cravings.
context
The Vitamin Shoppe will launch Whole Health Rx with a focus on weight management, but said it will expand its programs to address other needs such as testosterone support, hormone replacement therapy, hair removal and smoking cessation.
Last month, retailer Costco Wholesale offered about 130 million members access to a weight loss program through a partnership with online medical service provider Sesame, but the subscription does not cover the cost of weight loss drugs. It wasn’t done.
Look at the numbers
Analysts at UBS expect the global market for GLP-1 drugs to grow to $126 billion by 2029, identifying the growing obesity market as a “key driver.”
(Reporting by Juveria Tabassum; Editing by Anil D’Silva)
