Key Takeaways
- Thousands of Americans are being forced to switch from Eli Lilly's (LLY) Zepbound to Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Wegovy due to a CVS Caremark (CVS) formulary change effective July 1, 2025, sparking patient appeals and concerns over efficacy.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly denounced Nicolás Maduro, asserting he is "not the president of Venezuela" and labeling his regime a "narco-terrorist organization."
- Secretary Rubio is actively engaging in shuttle diplomacy, offering US facilitation for peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia amidst escalating border tensions and recent deadly clashes.
Thousands of Americans are facing mandatory changes to their weight-loss medication, as CVS Caremark (CVS) has ceased coverage for Eli Lilly's (LLY) Zepbound in favor of Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Wegovy, effective July 1, 2025. This decision, driven by a new deal between CVS Caremark and Novo Nordisk, has designated Wegovy as the preferred GLP-1 medication on its formulary.
Many patients are reportedly reluctant to switch, citing better weight-loss results and fewer side effects with Zepbound. This formulary change highlights the significant influence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in determining patient access to medications, often based on negotiated rebates rather than individual patient needs. Zepbound has demonstrated superior weight loss outcomes compared to Wegovy in the SURMOUNT-5 clinical trial. Patients have the right to appeal these coverage denials, with federal law requiring a decision within 72 hours.
In international news, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a forceful condemnation of Nicolás Maduro, declaring him "not the president of Venezuela" and asserting that his regime is illegitimate. Rubio further accused Maduro of leading the "Cartel of the Suns," which he described as a "narco-terrorist organization" formally charged with drug smuggling into the United States. The US government has also designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization due to its alleged support for the Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa Cartel.
Concurrently, Secretary Rubio has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. He held separate discussions with the foreign ministers of both nations, urging an immediate de-escalation and offering the United States' assistance in facilitating future peace talks. This intervention follows a warning from former US President Donald Trump, who indicated that the US would not pursue trade deals with either country if their border conflict persisted. The conflict, which erupted on July 24, 2025, has resulted in over 30 fatalities and displaced more than 150,000 civilians on both sides, with heavy artillery shelling reported as recently as July 27, 2025.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.