U.S. port strike expected to have limited impact on healthcare supply chain: HHS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) on Tuesday ruled out a significant disruption to the healthcare supply chain after dockworkers on the East and Gulf coasts went on strike, blocking nearly half of all incoming trade.

“Current preliminary assessments indicate immediate impacts across medicines, medical devices, and infant formula for consumers, parents, and caregivers should be limited,” the agency said following a meeting with industry stakeholders, including trade groups and distributors.

Novo Nordisk (NVO), which markets the popular anti-obesity medication Wegovy, said that the company has mitigation strategies to minimize or prevent any disruption to production. “We plan to ship our products to and from the U.S. via airfreight,” CNBC reported, quoting a company spokesperson.

Asked for comments, Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), its rival in the obesity market, refused to disclose details about partnerships with external suppliers.

Other major drugmakers in the U.S. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Merck (NYSE:MRK), Bristol Myers (BMY), and Pfizer (PFE) have yet to respond to Seeking Alpha’s requests for comments.