Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ARNA), Vivus, Inc. (VVUS) & Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (OREX): What’s Weight Loss For Now?

Published on May 16, 2013 at 2:24 pm by The Motley Fool in News

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Government wild card
The solution could be for the government to require insurers to cover obesity medications like it does with vaccines, which also have pay-now and save-later benefits. If all the insurers are required to cover the drugs, then they’ll all be on a level playing field for increased premiums, and they can all benefit down the line no matter who previously insured the patient.

If the government is going to require insurers to cover the drugs, it would have to cover them in the plans it runs, Medicare and Medicaid. I think we’re likely to see that as a first step before making it a requirement for private insurers, although it may take awhile given the push to decrease costs now.

Who will win the obesity drug market?

Can VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) pick up its lagging sales and fend off the competition, or will Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA) reign supreme in the obesity space? If you’re in the dark, grab copies of The Motley Fool’s premium research reports on VIVUS and Arena Pharmaceuticals to stay up to date. The reports have all the must-know information, including an in-depth look at the obesity market and reasons to buy and sell both stocks. Click now for an exclusive look at Arena and VIVUS — complete with a full year of free updates — today.

The article Weight Loss Isn’t Just for Looking Good Anymore originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Brian Orelli and The Motley Fool have no position in any stocks mentioned.