Eli Lilly is taking action to combat the growing competition from compounding pharmacies offering cheaper versions of its popular weight loss drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The company is pushing to remove the FDA shortage designation, highlighting patient safety concerns with off-brand alternatives and launching its own discounted product to meet demand.
Senator Bernie Sanders has opened an investigation into the exorbitant pricing of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes and weight loss drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy. In a letter addressed to the company’s CEO, Sanders expressed his concerns over significant price discrepancies between the medications and across different countries. Despite their shared active ingredient, Ozempic and Wegovy are priced markedly differently, with costs in the United States far exceeding those in Canada and Europe. Sanders cited a Yale University report suggesting that these drugs could be produced profitably for less than $5 per month, raising questions about Novo Nordisk’s pricing strategy.
North Carolina is facing financial strain due to the high cost of popular weight loss drugs, prompting the state to stop providing coverage and negotiate directly with manufacturers. Negotiations are ongoing, but patients are concerned about the impact on their health and access to medication.
Women with infertility issues are getting pregnant while taking weight-loss medications Ozempic and Mounjaro, raising safety concerns during pregnancy. These GLP-1 drugs are mainly used to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and for obesity treatment, but their impact on pregnancy is still largely unknown. Despite encouraging stories, experts emphasize the need for more data on the drugs’ safety and long-term effects on pregnancy outcomes, particularly in women without diabetes. Researchers are conducting studies to understand the drugs’ potential role in treating PCOS, a leading cause of infertility, but companies have yet to systematically study their use for this condition.
Weight loss drugs known as GLP-1s, including Ozempic, have a surprising impact on tobacco and alcohol habits. Studies indicate that GLP-1 users reduce their consumption of both substances while taking the medications. This observation suggests a potential positive effect on addictive behaviors, prompting further research to explore the causal link.
Weight loss plateaus are a common occurrence, particularly after about a year of dieting. The body adjusts to the calorie deficit, making it difficult to continue losing weight. Weight loss drugs and gastric bypass surgery have been shown to delay or prevent plateaus. These treatments suppress appetite and reduce the body’s ability to absorb calories, allowing individuals to maintain weight loss for longer periods.
Weight loss plateaus are a common challenge, with the body attempting to regain lost calories. Medications like Wegovy and Ozempic can delay this plateau for an average of a year, while gastric bypass surgery provides even greater results. However, semaglutide injections are expensive and may have unknown long-term effects. Obesity is a disease requiring treatment, not merely a matter of willpower or lifestyle choices.
TikTok will take action against influencers who promote popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy. The platform will prohibit ‘before-and-after’ photos and restrict minors from accessing weight loss content related to medication or extreme practices. The move aims to prevent content that could promote unhealthy weight management behaviors.
