CVS Health will restore coverage for Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound and add the newly approved obesity pill Foundayo to its formularies.
This shift represents a major reversal in the competitive landscape for GLP-1 weight-loss therapies. By reintegrating these medications, the leading U.S. pharmacy benefit manager is ending a period where Novo Nordisk held a preferred provider advantage.
The announcement was first reported on May 28, 2026 [3]. According to the company, Foundayo was added to formularies on June 1, 2026 [2]. Coverage for Zepbound is scheduled to become effective on Oct. 1, 2026 [1].
These moves follow a strategic shift in 2025 when CVS Health had previously designated Novo Nordisk as the preferred provider for GLP-1 drugs. The current decision aims to restore patient access to a wider range of weight-loss therapies, and allows Eli Lilly to regain a critical market position.
Foundayo enters the market as a pill-based alternative to the injectable treatments that have dominated the obesity sector. The addition of this medication provides a new delivery method for patients who may prefer oral medication over injections.
CVS Caremark manages pharmacy benefits for millions of people across the U.S. Because of its scale, the decision to include or exclude specific drugs often dictates which medications are affordable for patients and which providers dominate the market share.
“CVS Health will restore coverage for Eli Lilly’s obesity drug Zepbound”
The restoration of Eli Lilly's drugs on the CVS Health formulary signals a shift in the power dynamic between pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers. As the market for GLP-1 medications expands to include oral options like Foundayo, PBMs may move away from exclusive preferred-provider agreements to ensure broader patient access and leverage more competitive pricing between the industry's top two players.
