Author: IQ TIMES MEDIA

By Amina Niasse NEW YORK (Reuters) -WeightWatchers said on Monday it will partner with Amazon (AMZN) to deliver medications including injectable GLP-1 obesity treatments for its members, a move the telehealth provider said will make it easier for some customers to receive prescriptions. WeightWatchers customers will be able to check whether their medications are in stock and have the refrigerated drugs delivered more efficiently by using the Amazon Pharmacy option on its website, said WeightWatchers Chief Operating Officer Jon Volkmann. WeightWatchers, also known as WW International (WW), emerged from bankruptcy in July having shed debt and with a plan to…

Open enrollment — the annual window when employees can adjust their benefits — may deliver sticker shock this year. Workers are likely to pay between 6% to 7% more for their 2026 employer-sponsored health insurance, more than double the current rate of inflation, according to a new analysis from consultant Mercer. That means employees could pay about $2,400 next year for single coverage in an employer-provided preferred provider organization, or PPO, the most common type of medical plan, Mercer said. Families would likely face paycheck deductions of $8,900 a year for their coverage, according to the group, whose projections are…

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -The chair of Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk and six other independent board members will step down next month after a dispute over strategy with the drugmaker’s controlling shareholder, the Novo Nordisk Foundation The company said on Tuesday that Helge Lund and the other independent directors would step down at an extraordinary shareholder meeting on November 14. The Foundation said it would propose Lars Rebien Sorensen, a former Novo CEO and current chair of the Foundation, as temporary chairman of the drugmaker for two to three years. Novo ousted CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen in May over concerns that the…

(Reuters) -Blackstone and TPG have agreed to acquire medical diagnostics firm Hologic in an up to $18.3 billion deal, it said on Tuesday, marking one of the largest healthcare take-private transactions this year. Under the agreement, Blackstone and TPG will pay $76 apiece in cash to acquire all outstanding Hologic shares, implying a premium of nearly 6% to stock’s last closing price. Shareholders are also eligible for a non-tradable right to receive up to $3 per share, contingent on certain global revenue goals for its breast health business in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, bringing the total potential payout to…

By Sneha S K and Sriparna Roy (Reuters) -Elevance Health on Tuesday beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit as the health insurer managed to keep medical costs in check, sending its shares 3% higher in premarket trading. Several insurers such as Elevance, UnitedHealth and Centene have warned of elevated costs across government-backed plans following increased demand for healthcare across the United States over the last two years. Despite a dynamic healthcare environment, Elevance’s results were in line with expectations and reflected the company’s disciplined execution across its platforms, CEO Gail Boudreaux said. “As we plan for 2026, we remain…

By Stine Jacobsen, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Maggie Fick COPENHAGEN/LONDON (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk’s top investor moved to take control of the drugmaker’s board on Tuesday, vowing a sharper focus on the key U.S. market to revive sales of blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy as Novo’s chair and six independent board members quit. The non-profit Novo Nordisk Foundation, which combines business ownership with philanthropy, said it would propose its own chair Lars Rebien Sorensen – a former Novo CEO – to lead the Danish drugmaker’s board for the next two or three years. Novo said current chair Helge Lund and six other independent…

(Reuters) -Novo Nordisk will replace chair Helge Lund and six independent directors next month in a major boardroom shakeup following a disagreement over strategy with its powerful controlling shareholder, Novo Nordisk Foundation. They will step down at an extraordinary general meeting on November 14. The changes come after Mike Doustdar was named the drugmaker’s new CEO in August in its efforts to revive sales of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy. Kasim Kutay, CEO of another major shareholder, Novo Holdings, and employee-elected board members Elisabeth Dahl Christensen, Liselotte Hyveled, Mette Bøjer Jensen and Thomas Rantzau will remain on the board. The…

By Mariam Sunny (Reuters) -Medical diagnostics firm Hologic has agreed to be acquired by Blackstone and TPG in a deal valued at up to $18.3 billion, it said on Tuesday, marking one of the largest healthcare take-private transactions this year. The company, which specializes in women’s health diagnostics, including breast and cervical cancer screening, has grappled with waning demand since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as rising competition. Under the agreement, Blackstone and TPG will pay $76 apiece in cash to buy all outstanding Hologic shares, implying a premium of nearly 6% to the stock’s last close. Hologic shares were…

(Reuters) -Boston Scientific raised its annual profit forecast on Wednesday, after the medical device maker beat third-quarter profit estimates on strong demand for its heart devices. The company, which generates most of its revenue from heart devices such as pacemakers and stents, has benefited from rising demand for surgical procedures, helping offset broader concerns over healthcare spending. Larger rival Johnson & Johnson last week also reported a 6.8% rise in quarterly medical devices sales. Boston Scientific, last week, said it will buy the remaining equity in privately held Nalu Medical for about $533 million in cash, expanding its portfolio of…

(Reuters) -Alkermes said on Wednesday it will acquire Avadel Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at up to $2.1 billion, gaining an approved sleep-disorder treatment and expanding into the sleep-medicine market. The deal gives Alkermes an entry into the sleep-medicine market with Avadel’s Lumryz, which is approved to treat cataplexy or excessive daytime sleepiness in patients aged seven and older with narcolepsy, a disorder that affects the body’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Under the agreement, Alkermes will buy all outstanding Avadel ordinary shares for $18.50 in cash each, a 3.5% premium to Avadel’s last close. Avadel shareholders will also receive…