Nov 21 (Reuters) - Digital health company Waltz Health

said on Friday it has launched a program to offer popular

weight-loss drugs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly ( LLY )

directly to employers, bypassing traditional drug sales

channels.

Waltz said employees can access the drugs through their

existing healthcare providers or a telehealth option integrated

into the program, which is expected to launch on January 1 next

year.

The direct-to-employer structure is designed to eliminate

"unnecessary friction and delivers consistent pricing, adherence

monitoring and real-time clinical review," the company added.

Danish drugmaker Novo and its U.S. rival Lilly have been

trying to eliminate unapproved, compounded versions, made by

combining, mixing or altering drug ingredients, of their

blockbuster weight-loss treatments.

The drugmakers currently dominate the lucrative obesity

treatment market, which analysts estimate could be worth $150

billion annually by the early 2030s, with their highly effective

drugs designed to mimic the appetite-suppressing GLP-1 hormone.

"Transparent initiatives like these enable more employers to

opt in to coverage for authentic, FDA-approved GLP-1 medicines

while providing people who need care with a seamless experience

that allows them to prioritize their health," a Novo Nordisk

spokesperson told Reuters.