The Cigna Group will introduce two new programs to help manage the cost and delivery of GLP-1 drugs.
On a May 2 earnings call, Cigna Group President and COO Brian Evanko, in addition to reporting total year-over-year revenue up 14%, outlined Cigna’s efforts in the GLP-1 space. Here are five things to know:
- EncircleRx, a program Cigna launched in 2024 to control the cost of GLP-1s for employers, now has 9 million enrollees, according to Mr. Evanko.
- Building on this program, Evernorth, Cigna’s health services arm, will launch EnreachRx to support pharmacies dispensing the drugs. In June, the company will launch EnGuide, a program to deliver GLP-1s to patients’ homes, according to Mr. Evanko.
- Around 50% of Evernorth’s client base are choosing to cover the cost of GLP-1s for weight loss, Mr. Evanko said. Among Cigna Healthcare clients, which tend to be smaller employers, this share is 15% to 20%.
- Other insurers are also making moves in the GLP-1 space. On May 1, CVS Caremark said it had selected Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy as the preferred GLP-1 medication for its largest commercial template formularies. Novo Nordisk also expanded its GLP-1 partnership with Humana’s CenterWell Pharmacy in late April.
Mr. Evanko told investors he doesn’t see formulary changes or preferring one manufacturer’s GLP-1 over another as “sufficient to generate the societal impact that these drugs can have.”
“We’re really proud of our comprehensive approach to the GLP-1 market and the solutions that we’ve introduced that address access, affordability, clinical safety and longer-term lifestyle changes,” he said.
