STAT+: Novo may be getting a better deal than expected with Medicare’s Bridge program

A new study has revealed that Novo Nordisk could be receiving a more favorable arrangement through Medicare's Bridge program. The pharmaceutical giant recently announced positive results from a Phase 2 trial of enicepatide, a drug aimed at treating type 2 diabetes and obesity by helping patients lose weight and lower blood sugar. The company is currently conducting two Phase 3 weight loss studies and plans to initiate another pivotal trial next year to examine blood sugar control and cardiovascular outcomes.

Meanwhile, Celldex Therapeutics' experimental treatment for chronic hives has successfully met the goals of two Phase 3 clinical trials. The RNA-based drug, called ulefnersen, is licensed to Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka and has been shown to prolong survival and slow the progression of the disease in a Phase 3 trial. Viking Therapeutics' injectable obesity candidate, initially tested as a weekly treatment, continues to demonstrate efficacy in a Phase 2 trial following a transition to every-other-week or monthly dosing.