GLP-1s are accelerating spending growth on traditional drugs, Evernorth research finds

Healthcare DIVE March 25, 2025
Rebecca Pifer

Spending growth for simple-to-administer medications used to treat common health problems is outstripping spending growth for pricey medications used to treat complex and chronic conditions.

Dive Brief:

• Demand for GLP-1 drugs is causing spending on traditional drugs to grow at a faster clip than spending on specialty drugs, according to new research. That could put further stress on employers and health plans struggling to contain already sky-high spending on prescription drugs.
• Spending growth for traditional drugs — simple-to-administer medications used to treat common health problems — outstripped spending growth for specialty drugs — pricey medications used to treat complex and chronic conditions — for the first time in 2023, according to a report released Tuesday by Evernorth, the health...

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