GLP-1s

As experts forecast GLP-1 medications boosting national economies, the manufacturers of these popular drugs have reported fruitful second quarters. 

Nearly half of online pharmacies that sell semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — are doing so illegally, posing safety risks for consumers, according to a study published Aug. 2 in JAMA Network Open. 

There has been an uptick in patients being treated for eating disorders who are abusing GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy, according to research published Aug. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.

A GLP-1 medication might protect against dementia, according to researchers of a phase 2 trial that found liraglutide could slow cognitive decline by 18% after one year of use. 

Up to 30% of GLP-1 medications are acquired by patients through compounding pharmacies instead of the weight loss drugs' manufacturers like Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly, according to KFF Health News.

In recent years, more prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs were written to treat obesity than Type 2 diabetes, adding to accessibility and shortage concerns, according to a study published July 23 in Annals of Internal Medicine. 

Whether a GLP-1 medication is approved for diabetes or chronic weight management, declaring one therapy as "best" for weight loss is tricky. 

A new study from researchers at Oxford University in England has found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, may be tied to a lower risk of cognitive issues, including dementia.

Counterfeit Ozempic presentations, known as "faux-zempic," are on the rise in legal and illegal supply chains, The New York Times reported July 12. 

Citing high costs, payers are favoring bariatric surgeries over Wegovy and similar medications, according to an NYU Langone expert. It's unclear if insurers' policies can quell the booming popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, though.