Omada Health to start prescribing GLP-1s, other obesity medications
The Omada Health logo is displayed on a smartphone screen.
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virtual maintenance company Omada Health He said he would begin prescribing GLP-1s and other obesity medications on Thursday and help patients manage them.
Omada plans to expand offerings under its weight management program as membership grows to more than 800,000.
The announcement comes as digital health companies increase their presence in the blockbuster market for GLP-1s to treat obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions; an area that some analysts say could be worth nearly $100 billion by the end of the decade. Many digital health companies similarly offer prescriptions for GLP-1s, and the makers of these drugs, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, are developing new treatments for patients while also taking steps to make their treatments more accessible.
“The announcement was made in response to our belief that access to GLP-1s will increase quite significantly over time,” Omada co-founder and CEO Sean Duffy said in an interview. Omada said he acknowledged the market would expand beyond GLP-1 injections to pills and other “next-generation” treatments that work in different ways, and underscored the need to help patients manage their medications.
Programs from companies like Omada aim to support lifestyle and behavior changes for patients using these medications; It offers nutritional guidance, a team of education and health coaches and exercise specialists, and services that can help people stay off the drug for longer, among other resources. But Omada now connects with licensed providers trained in obesity care to prescribe medications and help patients manage them.
The new offering will allow the company to support patients in obtaining prescriptions and throughout their time for GLP-1. This type of support is crucial, as GLP-1 injections can be complicated for patients to use appropriately and often come with gastrointestinal side effects that force some people to discontinue treatment.
“If you need to increase or decrease the dose, change medications; you name it. We will be able to support you throughout this experience,” Duffy said.
Omada, which partners with national and regional health plans and employers, also said the new offering is an add-on that allows customers to control costs and improve outcomes from obesity treatments while better supporting the health needs of their employees.
Also on Thursday, Omada Health reported quarterly earnings for the second time since its initial public offering in June.
Founded in 2011, the company offers virtual care programs to support patients with chronic conditions such as prediabetes, diabetes and hypertension. Omada describes his approach as an “inter-visit model of care” that is complementary to the broader health ecosystem.
