Eli Lilly's obesity drug Zepbound can now be covered by government-backed Medicare insurance plans for use in sleep apnea, broadening access to the blockbuster weight-loss treatment. The Wednesday statement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services comes after Zepbound in December became the first drug approved in the U.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Zepbound on Dec. 27 to treat sleep apnea, a common but potentially serious sleep-related breathing disorder, making it the first medication for certain patients with the condition.

Key Takeaways Eli Lilly's Zepbound can be covered by Medicare Part D plans after the FDA approved the drug as a treatment for sleep apnea last month.Weight loss drugs like Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Ozempic aren't covered under Medicare,

According to BMO Capital Markets, Medicare coverage of Lilly’s Zepbound opens the door to using secondary indications to secure CMS coverage for obesity drugs.