DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 4, 2025--
Virta Health, a leader in diabetes reversal and sustainable weight loss with a nutrition-first approach, announced early and compelling results from its Sustainable Weight Loss GLP-1 prescribing capabilities, launched earlier this year. The outcomes highlight a revolutionary shift in obesity and weight loss care, offering organizations a responsible way to cover GLP-1s for weight loss, while reducing reliance and curbing total costs for the medications.
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An expansion of Virta’s Sustainable Weight Loss solution, Responsible Prescribing supports employers, health plans, and leading pharmacy benefit managers to deliver best-in-class outcomes with or without GLP-1s, through providing a drug-free alternative, combo therapy, and off-ramp for medications. Virta’s approach provides payers the most cost-efficient options for long-term health improvement while integrating weight loss medications as needed.
Preliminary findings from Virta’s book of business indicate its prescribing solution drove transformative health outcomes and immediate business impact, including:
The GLP-1 Cost Crisis and the Need for Smarter Solutions
As organizations from self-insured employers to health plans tighten coverage criteria and grapple with GLP-1 costs projected to surpass $100 billion annually, the need for a proven, cost-efficient, and responsible approach to covering GLP-1s for weight loss has never been greater.
“Skyrocketing costs of GLP-1s have left enterprises to absorb increased expenses or restrict access altogether, which either fail to address the root causes of obesity or leave individual patients frustrated,” said Sami Inkinen, co-founder and CEO of Virta. “In just months, our Responsible Prescribing model is cutting GLP-1 usage in half while delivering transformative weight loss outcomes. This isn’t just cost control—it’s the responsible approach to addressing obesity and covering GLP-1s while maximizing health outcomes.”
This shift comes as 69% of consumers prefer to lose weight without medications, reinforcing the need for solutions that prioritize nutrition and long-term sustainability over the dependency and financial burden of GLP-1s alone. Those who transition off these medications, while sustaining achieved weight loss nutritionally, report a better quality of life, with one Virta member sharing, “Thank you so much for all of your help transitioning off this medication. I am feeling so much better than I have while I was on it.”
With demand surging and early results exceeding expectations, Virta is redefining the standard of care in weight loss. As the cost and complexity of GLP-1 use continue to rise, Virta now offers a path forward that prioritizes health, affordability, and lasting impact, with or without GLP-1s, offering enterprises a responsible way to cover these medications for weight loss.
Virta Health Cuts GLP-1 Use for Weight Loss Over 50% While Driving Significant and Sustained Outcomes, Delivering Major Cost Savings for Payers
Virta Health Cuts GLP-1 Use for Weight Loss Over 50% While Driving Significant and Sustained Outcomes, Delivering Major Cost Savings for Payers
Virta Health Cuts GLP-1 Use for Weight Loss Over 50% While Driving Significant and Sustained Outcomes, Delivering Major Cost Savings for Payers
