May 22, 2025 — The game is over. Today is the day legal semaglutide compounding at scale ends by decree from the FDA. Compounding pharmacies have known this day was coming since February when the agency determined that the shortage of semaglutide from Novo Nordisk was over. Well-informed patients who have depended upon compounding for affordable access to a […]
May 7, 2025 — The word of the day in obesity is volatility. Minutes ago in Denmark, Novo Nordisk announced their first quarter business results and revealed a 13% drop in obesity drug sales, a reduction in their sales forecast, and yet the response in European stock markets was that the stock rose in value. In fact, it rose […]
May 2, 2025 — The last legitimate path for GLP-1 compounding closes on May 22 and consumer protection advocates are worried about rabbit holes opening up to exploit the desperation of some patients. Yesterday, the National Consumer League (NCL) released survey results to suggest a great deal of confusion and misinformation about off-brand versions of GLP-1 medicines. Perhaps more […]
April 23, 2025 — ICER, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, yesterday brought a sharp focus to the challenge of dealing with the money flowing for obesity medicines. Sarah Emond, ICER’s CEO, explained the challenge and the opportunity of this unique moment: “This new class of obesity medicines offers weight reduction and associated benefits that, if they’re sustained […]
April 11, 2025 — It’s hard to miss the headlines about wild gyrations in financial markets and tariff policies that have been coming in and out of view. We’re doing our best to stay out of those crosscurrents which threaten to become riptides. But the threat to place “a major tariff on pharmaceuticals” is hard to ignore, simply because […]
March 26, 2025 — In the U.S., we are at a critical point for the sourcing obesity medicines. March 19 was the last day that FDA would tolerate large scale compounding of tirzepatide on account of the now resolved shortage of that drug. The same milestone for semaglutide is coming up on May 22. Some people are not happy. […]
March 24, 2025 — There’s no denying it. More people are getting access to care for obesity than ever before. In part this is because health professionals have a range of tools for providing that care. GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide are a big part of that.But those drugs carry a price tag that is blowing up pharmacy […]
March 15, 2025 — A new analysis in JAMA Health Forum yesterday shines a harsh light on pricing for new obesity medicines. In a rigorous econometric analysis, researchers found that new and highly effective medicines for obesity – Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) – are both overpriced. They also found that the price and value of Wegovy was out […]
March 6, 2025 — Prices are moving quickly for people seeking obesity treatment with semaglutide and tirzepatide. Last week, Lilly offered another price cut for Zepbound. At the time, we noted inaction from Novo Nordisk on this front. But it barely took a week for this formerly unchallenged market leader to step up and respond with a huge price […]
February 26, 2025 — Just days after an FDA ruling that will force most compounders out of the market for obesity medicines, Eli Lilly announced yet another carefully calibrated price cut for its Zepbound brand of tirzepatide. These are direct-to-consumer prices for the product packaged in vials. Specifically, Lilly offered up two new, higher dose vials at a reduced […]
