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  • Wegovy injections vs. pills: Doctors explain the differences

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    Wegovy injections vs. pills: Doctors explain the differences

    When it comes to GLP-1 pills vs. injections, doctors share which form may be best for you.

    Updated: 3:01 PM PST Jan 15, 2026

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    GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) like Ozempic and Wegovy continue to make headlines as more research points to the benefits of taking these medications. Traditionally, patients administer these via injection, but now, one medication in particular is available to take in pill form. So, which works best: Wegovy injection vs. pill? And is the answer the same for all GLP-1s?First, GLP-1s are a class of drugs that mimic the GLP-1 hormone that’s naturally released in your GI tract when you eat, explains Mir Ali, M.D., medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. These medications help to moderate blood sugar levels, reduce feelings of hunger in the brain, and delay emptying in the stomach, making you feel fuller, longer. As a result, a side effect is weight loss. There are some buzzy GLP-1 medications that have become household names, like Wegovy and Ozempic, but there are also other options you may not have heard about.Ultimately, the best GLP-1 medication is one that you and your healthcare provider agree will best serve your needs. But learning more about the medication you intend to use can’t hurt. Here, find the major differences between GLP-1 injections and pills.There are a lot of medications that fall into the GLP-1 class, including injectable drugs and pills. Some popular ones include Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy.It’s worth noting that Wegovy (the main active ingredient of which is semaglutide) is the only GLP-1 pill that’s approved for weight loss by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While Rybelsus is sometimes used off-label for weight loss, it’s technically FDA-approved for blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes (the same goes for Ozempic). So, keep in mind that the information ahead speaks primarily to Wegovy.Wegovy injection vs. pill: How does each work? GLP-1 injectable medications are usually injected into the belly. “GLP-1 injections deliver the medication into the subcutaneous fat, where it is slowly absorbed,” explains Christoph Buettner, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the division of endocrinology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “These drugs have a long half-life, about five to seven days, which is why they only need to be taken once a week.”After they’re injected, the medication steadily enters the bloodstream and activates the GLP-1 receptor, Dr. Buettner explains. Once it’s in your body, the medication signals to your brain to take in less food, says Martin Binks, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University College of Public Health. “They also help delay stomach emptying, which ultimately improves satiety and reduces hunger,” he says. “The combined influences of these medicines regulate metabolism and appetite.”The GLP-1 pills work similarly, but these contain a higher dose of medication to compensate for absorption into the digestive tract, Dr. Binks says. (The injectable medications have lower doses of medication because they’re slowly released into the bloodstream and bypass the gastrointestinal tract, Dr. Ali explains.)These medications are taken by mouth once a day. They usually need to be taken on an empty stomach, and you can’t eat or take most other medications for up to an hour afterward, Dr. Buettner points out. “These requirements can be inconvenient for many patients,” he says.Which is most effective for weight loss?It depends. There have been a few clinical trials on the impact of GLP-1 injectable medications on weight loss with different results. However, People usually lose about 15% of their body weight while using semaglutide medications like Wegovy.Meanwhile, during clinical trials for the Wegovy oral route, people who took the pill lost about 16.6% of their body weight. (That’s compared to 3% weight loss achieved by people who used a placebo.)While Rybelsus isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss, people typically lose around eight pounds while taking this medication.Which works best?There are a few things to consider. “Both injectables and pill forms can be helpful,” says Dina Hagigeorges, PA.-C., a physician assistant who specializes in weight and wellness at Tufts Medicine Weight + Wellness – Stoneham. “Unfortunately, cost and insurance coverage are a huge deciding factor, as not all insurance plans cover these medications for people.” When paid for out of pocket, injectable GLP-1 medications are usually much more expensive than their oral counterparts.There’s a larger body of research to support injectable medications for weight loss, although the Wegovy pill shows promise, Dr. Ali says. “If someone can tolerate injections, it’s usually the better way to go—they’re taken less frequently,” he says. But these medications aren’t a good fit for people who are scared of needles, and they have to be refrigerated, Dr. Ali points out.“The pills are a good option for people who don’t like injections, and you can easily take them with you when you travel,” Dr. Ali says. “But they have to be taken daily, which is not for everyone.”Side effectsThe side effects are similar for both medications, Dr. Buettner says.These side effects may include:NauseaVomitingDiarrheaConstipationUpset Stomach “The most important thing is choosing a medication that you can use consistently and that aligns with your personal priorities—whether that’s maximum weight loss, convenience, avoiding injections, or simplifying your routine,” he says. “Many patients try one form first and later switch based on their experience.”So, talk to your healthcare provider and keep the line of conversation open. You may find one form of GLP-1 feels like a more natural fit over another.

    GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) like Ozempic and Wegovy continue to make headlines as more research points to the benefits of taking these medications. Traditionally, patients administer these via injection, but now, one medication in particular is available to take in pill form. So, which works best: Wegovy injection vs. pill? And is the answer the same for all GLP-1s?

    First, GLP-1s are a class of drugs that mimic the GLP-1 hormone that’s naturally released in your GI tract when you eat, explains Mir Ali, M.D., medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. These medications help to moderate blood sugar levels, reduce feelings of hunger in the brain, and delay emptying in the stomach, making you feel fuller, longer. As a result, a side effect is weight loss.

    There are some buzzy GLP-1 medications that have become household names, like Wegovy and Ozempic, but there are also other options you may not have heard about.

    Ultimately, the best GLP-1 medication is one that you and your healthcare provider agree will best serve your needs. But learning more about the medication you intend to use can’t hurt. Here, find the major differences between GLP-1 injections and pills.

    There are a lot of medications that fall into the GLP-1 class, including injectable drugs and pills. Some popular ones include Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy.

    It’s worth noting that Wegovy (the main active ingredient of which is semaglutide) is the only GLP-1 pill that’s approved for weight loss by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While Rybelsus is sometimes used off-label for weight loss, it’s technically FDA-approved for blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes (the same goes for Ozempic). So, keep in mind that the information ahead speaks primarily to Wegovy.

    Wegovy injection vs. pill: How does each work?

    GLP-1 injectable medications are usually injected into the belly. “GLP-1 injections deliver the medication into the subcutaneous fat, where it is slowly absorbed,” explains Christoph Buettner, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the division of endocrinology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “These drugs have a long half-life, about five to seven days, which is why they only need to be taken once a week.”

    After they’re injected, the medication steadily enters the bloodstream and activates the GLP-1 receptor, Dr. Buettner explains. Once it’s in your body, the medication signals to your brain to take in less food, says Martin Binks, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University College of Public Health. “They also help delay stomach emptying, which ultimately improves satiety and reduces hunger,” he says. “The combined influences of these medicines regulate metabolism and appetite.”

    The GLP-1 pills work similarly, but these contain a higher dose of medication to compensate for absorption into the digestive tract, Dr. Binks says. (The injectable medications have lower doses of medication because they’re slowly released into the bloodstream and bypass the gastrointestinal tract, Dr. Ali explains.)

    These medications are taken by mouth once a day. They usually need to be taken on an empty stomach, and you can’t eat or take most other medications for up to an hour afterward, Dr. Buettner points out. “These requirements can be inconvenient for many patients,” he says.

    Which is most effective for weight loss?

    It depends. There have been a few clinical trials on the impact of GLP-1 injectable medications on weight loss with different results. However, People usually lose about 15% of their body weight while using semaglutide medications like Wegovy.

    Meanwhile, during clinical trials for the Wegovy oral route, people who took the pill lost about 16.6% of their body weight. (That’s compared to 3% weight loss achieved by people who used a placebo.)

    While Rybelsus isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss, people typically lose around eight pounds while taking this medication.

    Which works best?

    There are a few things to consider. “Both injectables and pill forms can be helpful,” says Dina Hagigeorges, PA.-C., a physician assistant who specializes in weight and wellness at Tufts Medicine Weight + Wellness – Stoneham. “Unfortunately, cost and insurance coverage are a huge deciding factor, as not all insurance plans cover these medications for people.” When paid for out of pocket, injectable GLP-1 medications are usually much more expensive than their oral counterparts.

    There’s a larger body of research to support injectable medications for weight loss, although the Wegovy pill shows promise, Dr. Ali says. “If someone can tolerate injections, it’s usually the better way to go—they’re taken less frequently,” he says. But these medications aren’t a good fit for people who are scared of needles, and they have to be refrigerated, Dr. Ali points out.

    “The pills are a good option for people who don’t like injections, and you can easily take them with you when you travel,” Dr. Ali says. “But they have to be taken daily, which is not for everyone.”

    Side effects

    The side effects are similar for both medications, Dr. Buettner says.

    These side effects may include:

    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Diarrhea
    • Constipation
    • Upset Stomach

    “The most important thing is choosing a medication that you can use consistently and that aligns with your personal priorities—whether that’s maximum weight loss, convenience, avoiding injections, or simplifying your routine,” he says. “Many patients try one form first and later switch based on their experience.”

    So, talk to your healthcare provider and keep the line of conversation open. You may find one form of GLP-1 feels like a more natural fit over another.

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  • Semaglutide fails to slow progression of Alzheimer’s in highly anticipated trials, Novo Nordisk says

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    An oral version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, failed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in closely watched trials, Novo Nordisk said Monday.In two Phase 3 trials of more than 3,800 adults receiving standard care for Alzheimer’s, the company evaluated whether an older pill form of semaglutide worked better than a placebo. The drug was shown to be safe and led to improvements in Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers, the company said, but the treatment did not delay disease progression.Novo had long treated Alzheimer’s as a long-shot bet for the popular GLP-1 drugs. Use of these drugs for diabetes and weight loss has exploded in recent years, and they have shown benefits for a wide range of additional health conditions, such as protecting the heart and kidneys, reducing sleep apnea and potentially helping with addiction.Smaller trials and animal studies had suggested GLP-1s might help slow cognitive decline or reduce neuro-inflammation but larger trials like Novo’s were needed to confirm whether patients saw actual benefits.”Based on the significant unmet need in Alzheimer’s disease as well as a number of indicative data points, we felt we had a responsibility to explore semaglutide’s potential, despite a low likelihood of success,” said Martin Holst Lange, chief scientific officer and executive vice president of Research and Development at Novo Nordisk said in a statement on Monday that thanked trial participants.A one-year extension of the trials will be discontinued, Novo said. Results from the trials have not yet been peer-reviewed or published but will be presented at upcoming scientific conferences.Novo has been facing increased competition in the weight loss market and recently announced lowered prices for some cash-paying patients using Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo shares fell Monday after the Alzheimer’s trial announcement.

    CNN —

    An oral version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, failed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in closely watched trials, Novo Nordisk said Monday.

    In two Phase 3 trials of more than 3,800 adults receiving standard care for Alzheimer’s, the company evaluated whether an older pill form of semaglutide worked better than a placebo. The drug was shown to be safe and led to improvements in Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers, the company said, but the treatment did not delay disease progression.

    Novo had long treated Alzheimer’s as a long-shot bet for the popular GLP-1 drugs. Use of these drugs for diabetes and weight loss has exploded in recent years, and they have shown benefits for a wide range of additional health conditions, such as protecting the heart and kidneys, reducing sleep apnea and potentially helping with addiction.

    Smaller trials and animal studies had suggested GLP-1s might help slow cognitive decline or reduce neuro-inflammation but larger trials like Novo’s were needed to confirm whether patients saw actual benefits.

    “Based on the significant unmet need in Alzheimer’s disease as well as a number of indicative data points, we felt we had a responsibility to explore semaglutide’s potential, despite a low likelihood of success,” said Martin Holst Lange, chief scientific officer and executive vice president of Research and Development at Novo Nordisk said in a statement on Monday that thanked trial participants.

    A one-year extension of the trials will be discontinued, Novo said. Results from the trials have not yet been peer-reviewed or published but will be presented at upcoming scientific conferences.

    Novo has been facing increased competition in the weight loss market and recently announced lowered prices for some cash-paying patients using Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo shares fell Monday after the Alzheimer’s trial announcement.

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  • Ozempic Spells Trouble for the U.S. Economy—With 5 Exceptions

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    The effects of Ozempic on grocery spending are obvious; the Harvard Business Review found GLP-1 households are spending up to 8 percent less on food. The restaurant industry is suffering, too. Food and Wine warns that the Ozempic effect is “rewriting the rules of dining out.” But the food and dining categories are just the first victims of Ozempic.

    Twelve percent of the U.S. population has taken GLP-1s at one time or another, with the number rising to 20 percent of women 50-64.  In September, a pill form was introduced, which will undoubtedly increase adoption.

    Science is finding that in addition to curbing food cravings, addictions to opioids, alcohol, and nicotine may be treatable with these compounds.

    That’s good news for human health. What isn’t getting nearly enough attention, though, is what happens more broadly—beyond food, smoking, substance abuse—when those hormones are suppressed?

    Disaster.

    The “Impulse Economy” is under siege

    Marketers have spent decades getting exquisitely good at creating and monetizing tiny bursts of desire. They are black belts in provoking dopamine release, whether consumers are clicking or scrolling, or getting triggered at the checkout by the cornucopia of impulse purchases. Or being seduced by in-game sports betting.

    This emotional manipulation is what powers the consumer economy—which makes up almost 68 percent of U.S. GDP.

    But that emotional need is being threatened by the current wave of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

    Researchers are now noting that, in addition to curbing food, alcohol, and drug cravings, GLP-1 drugs also appear to broadly target the brain’s dopamine reward system, which creates anticipation and the impulse to go after something—or spend money on something.

    This can be a punch in the gut to brands. While many discretionary consumer categories are likely to be threatened, it is the most dopamine-driven sectors that will be at heightened risk. You know who they are. Businesses like Fan Duel, Starbucks, the temptations at Costco, the beauty haul at Sephora—these are all powered by dopamine cravings.

    So too is the world of direct-to-consumer brands that are successfully turning thumb-stopping into immediate purchase.

    A quick look at some basic brain science explains everything.

    The billions that are being spent in the non-essential “impulse economy” are the beneficiaries of System One, the so-called fast brain, our more instinctive, quick-turn mechanism.

    When System One is blunted, System Two—the slow brain, the more thoughtful and considered processing operation—takes over.  

    Here are some quotes from Reddit that capture the GLP-1 effect. There are many others, and they all should be unsettling to the dopamine harvesters out there:

    “I found that it actually stopped my shopping impulses, doom scrolling, and any of the other unwanted dopamine-seeking activities,” wrote one user.

    From another user: “Came here to mention how much less shopping I’ve been doing! I still go to websites and look at stuff, even add some to my cart, but then I just… don’t feel the need to check out. Very unexpected, but it’s definitely saving me money!”

    As GLP-1 drugs are being researched for more and more conditions—like cognitive decline, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, and others—millions more will have this Reddit reaction.

    Master the slow brain

    You can’t reignite the craving circuits GLP-1s dampen. Biology now outranks branding on that axis. But marketers can tap the pathways GLP-1s don’t blunt. 

    Here are five areas where businesses can still succeed in an Ozempic-ruled world.

    Identity still matters. People buy to express who they are—or who they want to be. That circuit is intact.

    Ritual still works. GLP-1 drugs weaken impulses, not routine. Daily and weekly anchors can replace sugar-rush consumption.

    Status endures. Social identity and signaling rely on different neural systems than craving.

    Sensory experience is still craveable. Texture, aroma, temperature, sound—sensory design taps pathways outside the dopamine loop.

    Goals and completion are still deeply satisfying. Motivation tied to progress, tracking, achievement, and self-improvement is strong and unaltered.

    In short, brands relying on impulsivity will struggle with GLP-1. Brands that reroute desire into underlying psychological truths can thrive.

    A five-point plan for marketing to muted desire

    Build on the slow brain hacks described above with these techniques.

    Don’t run from logic. Marketers have spent decades focusing on emotional versus rational drivers.  GLP-1 allows space for the logical, so make sure your marketing narrative responds accordingly.  With craving dialed down, the rational brain gets a bigger share of the vote.

    Simplify choice. A cooler dopamine baseline has less tolerance for clutter and SKU overload. This also has graphic and aesthetic applications—give the brain a visually calm resting place.  

    Design rituals, not jolts. The comfort of habit can replace the reward loop of impulse and become a dependable driver of repeat behavior. Higher levels of dopamine drive consumers to seek novelty, which leads to brand switching. Lower levels can actually make brands stickier and generate loyalty.

    Don’t be pushy. The fast brain is wired for quick decisions; it doesn’t mind being pushed and rushed. FOMO works with System One. The slow brain likes to think things over, to mull. GLP-1 consumers will appreciate a less in-your-face selling ecosystem.

    Invest in confidence. In a new world where immediacy is replaced by contemplation, make sure your brand delivers on that extended marketing moment. That could mean using third-party experts to add reinforcement and credibility. Real authority versus superficial influencer hype. Extending your guarantee to de-risk the purchase is also slow brain candy.

    Neurochemical quieting may be the biggest unmodeled demand shock in decades.

    What happens when the American shopper becomes less temptable? When the internal amplifier that turns tiny stimuli into potent urges gets turned to a lower setting?

    We’re about to find out.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Adam Hanft

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  • Trump Announces Sweeping Cost Cuts On Obesity Drugs – KXL

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    Acquired Through MGN Online on 04/29/2025

    WASHINGTON, DC – President Trump is announcing sweeping cost cuts on obesity drugs. The White House says that Eli Lilly, which makes Zepbound, and Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Wegovy, will lower the price of those injectable weight loss drugs to as little as $350 a month for starter doses. The list prices now exceed $1,000.

    Trump also says that Medicare will start covering the drugs and that if the Food and Drug Administration approves oral anti-obesity tablets, the lowest dose will cost $149 a month. In exchange, the White House has agreed to give the drugmakers a priority two-month review for certain drugs and a break on tariffs.

    All this will start in January when TrumpRX, the administration’s direct-to-consumer website, launches.

    More about:

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    Tim Lantz

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  • Semaglutide Helps Your Heart Even If the Scale Doesn’t Budge, Study Shows

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    The benefits of semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, aren’t just limited to treating obesity. New research shows that semaglutide can protect people’s hearts regardless of how many pounds they lose while taking it.

    Scientists examined data from a large-scale clinical trial of people with obesity and pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Compared to people on placebo, they found, those on semaglutide were less likely to develop heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems—even when people hadn’t lost much weight at all. The results indicate that semaglutide can improve heart health in more than one way, the researchers and outside experts say.

    The findings “highlight that the cardioprotective effects of semaglutide may be independent of adiposity and weight loss,” Laurence Sperling, a preventive cardiologist at Emory University not affiliated with the study, told Gizmodo.

    Good for the heart

    Semaglutide and other GLP-1 drugs have heralded a new era of obesity (and diabetes) treatment. But for a time, it was unclear if these drugs would also improve people’s cardiovascular health, and to what extent.

    Novo Nordisk (the makers of Ozempic and Wegovy) funded a large, randomized, controlled, and double-blinded study designed to answer that open question—the SELECT trial. It involved roughly 17,000 people with obesity and a history of cardiovascular disease, who were followed for up to five years. The primary results from the SELECT trial, published almost two years ago, showed that high-dose semaglutide (the version approved as Wegovy for treating obesity) reduced people’s risk of heart attacks and other major cardiovascular events by 20% during the study period. Based on these findings, the Food and Drug Administration expanded its approval of Wegovy to also cover the prevention of cardiovascular disease in high-risk groups.

    Since obesity is known to increase the risk of heart disease, it’s easy to assume that semaglutide’s heart benefits are mostly tied to helping people lose weight. But some evidence has already suggested it’s more complicated than that. In this new research, some of the researchers who conducted the SELECT trial took a closer look at their data.

    They ultimately found no clear relationship between how much weight someone had lost early into the study (20 weeks in) and their reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The heart-protective benefits of semaglutide were also largely the same across different baseline weight groups. In other words, someone who was overweight (a body mass index between 27 and 30) at the start of the study tended to see a similar reduction in heart disease risk as compared to someone with the highest level of obesity (a BMI over 40).

    “This gives us important information that maybe we should be looking at the indication for these drugs beyond just whether your BMI is more than 27,” Howard Weintraub, preventive cardiologist and clinical director at the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at NYU Langone Heart, told Gizmodo. Weintraub was one of the lead researchers of the original SELECT trial but wasn’t involved in the new research.

    The study did see an association between someone’s waist circumference throughout the study and heart disease risk. The more a person’s waist shrunk, for instance, the greater reduction in risk they had. Waist circumference is another measure of excess body fat. So semaglutide’s slimming of body fat does seem to help explain why it prevents heart disease—but only partly. The researchers estimated that just a third of semaglutide’s effect on lowering cardiovascular disease could be accounted for by a trimming waistline.

    The team’s findings were published Tuesday in The Lancet.

    Beyond weight loss

    The authors say these findings could have far-reaching implications for how semaglutide and similar GLP-1 drugs should be used. If its heart benefits are largely independent of weight loss, then it wouldn’t be helpful to limit the prescribing of these drugs based solely on BMI. People taking semaglutide who lose enough weight to no longer qualify as obese might still benefit from continuing the drug for its heart-protective effects—just as those who don’t lose much weight may, too.

    It’s even possible that GLP-1 therapy could one day be reframed as a standalone treatment for heart disease, regardless of BMI. Richard Kovacs, the interim chief of cardiovascular medicine at Indiana University’s School of Medicine, who is not involved with the study, notes that these findings could shape future guidelines in how doctors manage cardiovascular disease.

    “This is a potential guideline changer because of its robust effect here. This is a well-run, large trial that we’re all familiar with. It’s an important analysis of it,” Kovacs, who is also the chief medical officer for the American College of Cardiology, told Gizmodo. At the same time, he adds, it would probably still take more data from at least one other large randomized trial for such a change to happen easily.

    One important question left to answer is exactly how these drugs can improve our heart health. The researchers argue that some of the drug’s protection likely stems from its anti-inflammatory effects, both on excess body fat and elsewhere. But the drug’s influence on blood sugar control or our blood vessels could also be playing a part.

    Yet another question is whether these heart-bolstering effects can be seen in people who aren’t overweight or obese—something that Kovacs suspects will be put to the test soon enough. And it’s still important to study whether similar benefits are apparent with other GLP-1 medications, including newer drugs that are combining GLP-1s with other compounds.

    For now, this research is continuing to demonstrate that there’s still so much left to learn about these already game-changing drugs.

    “I don’t think we know everything that the GLP-1 agonists do yet,” Weintraub said. “So doctors will need to look at this beyond the prism of a TikTok video, where kids are looking to lose a couple of pounds to look better. That may certainly happen, but I think the cosmetic issues and the role of weight loss are just a small part of it. And as a cardiologist, I’m more motivated by the sort of findings we’re seeing here in reducing cardiovascular disease.”

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    Ed Cara

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  • Few Employer Health Plans Cover Ozempic. This Company Can Help

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    Many American workers want to use GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, to meet their weight loss goals. The trouble is, most employee health plans don’t cover them — but a new company hopes to change that.

    A prescription drug employee benefit company, called Andel, announced its debut at the HLTH conference in Las Vegas on Monday. Early next year, Andel will help reduce the cost of providing GLP-1 medications in employee benefits packages by forming an employer co-op. Under this setup, Andel is able to buy the medication in bulk directly from drug manufacturers instead of negotiating prices from pharmacy benefit managers, which are usually owned by insurers. Employers can reduce the cost even further by adding subsidies.

    “Instead of asking [employers] to sign up to a fully-funded insurance plan, which is really expensive and unpredictable and challenging, all we would ask for is a small 50 to $100 per claim subsidy, which we pass directly to reduce the cost of the drugs,” Andel CEO and Co-founder Jay Bregman says.

    Employers are legally required to cover GLP-1 medication for diabetes, but not for weight loss. The injectable version of the drugs typically costs between $1,000 and $1,500 a month — which isn’t doable for most employers, especially with premiums projected to spike by 9 percent next year. Currently, 64 percent of employers do not cover GLP-1 medication to help workers shed pounds — but boy, do they wish they did. Up to 35 percent of Americans say they “are interested” in using the drug to lose weight, according to a PwC survey.

    Lesley Grady, senior vice president of enterprise marketing at Sequoia — a benefits brokerage known for serving Silicon Valley tech startups and large companies — confirms strong interest in GLP-1 coverage. She says their clients are looking for creative solutions to make the medication more affordable for employers. The brokerage plans to start offering Andel to clients who are looking to beef up their benefit plans.

    “Employees in tech have high expectations of their benefits, but I think employers obviously know that if they include it with unchecked access, it will blow up their budget,” Grady says. “So they’re really under pressure to find solutions right now that don’t just open up their floodgates — we see that strategy with Andel.”

    Andel doesn’t plan to stop with weight loss drugs — in the coming years, the company hopes to apply the same cooperative, subsidy model to preventative Alzheimer’s drugs and potentially gene therapy, the co-founders told Inc.

    “Expanding access to healthcare is the cornerstone of our mission,” says Andel Co-founder Ritu Malhotra. “Andel gives employers an innovative new pharmacy-benefit solution that fills the coverage gap.”

    Andel was co-founded by Bregman, who successfully exited three companies — including the ridesharing network Hailo, rebranded to Lyft Europe — and Malhotra, who’s also a pharmacist and former CVS Health executive. At the conference, the founders announced they raised $4.5 million in capital to launch the platform. Investors include Lightbank, Seedcamp, Bertelsmann Investments, Houghton Street Ventures, and Springboard.

    Eric Ong, partner at Lightbank — a venture capital firm that invests heavily in benefit tech companies — told Inc. that Malhotra’s PBM experience and Bregman’s entrepreneurial success is uniquely positioned to help tackle the high cost of in-demand prescription drugs. The firm invested in the company because they haven’t seen any other solutions addressing this challenge, he says.

    “There’s a disconnect between employers wanting to offer good benefits and health benefits and keeping their employees healthy — at the same time, they can’t afford it. So, we just found that really interesting and sort of novel in the market today,” Ong says.

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    Kayla Webster

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  • Novo Nordisk Hires US Pharma Veteran as Trump Pricing Pressure Mounts

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    Novo Nordisk has appointed U.S. pharmaceutical executive Greg Miley as its new global head of corporate affairs, as the obesity drugmaker faces growing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on drug pricing.

    Miley recently served as senior vice president of government affairs at U.S. pharmaceutical giant AbbVie. He posted a statement about his appointment on LinkedIn on Friday and Novo Nordisk shared the statement with Reuters.

    A Novo spokesperson said on Saturday that Miley would join the company in early November, overseeing global communication and global public affairs.

    Novo is turning to an American executive with deep U.S. pharmaceutical experience to help navigate political risks under the Trump administration in the United States, its largest market.

    New hire to focus on relations with Trump administration

    The appointment comes as new CEO Mike Doustdar tries to revive investor confidence through a restructuring to sharpen Novo’s focus in a fierce obesity drug battle against U.S. rival Eli Lilly. The overhaul includes cutting 9,000 jobs, with 5,000 positions being eliminated in Denmark and layoffs under way across multiple U.S. departments.

    “In this new role, I see great potential to strengthen our Global Communication and Public Affairs efforts,” Miley wrote on LinkedIn, adding that he would relocate to Denmark, Novo’s home market.

    Miley’s urgent priority will be improving Novo’s relations with the Trump administration, said a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential information.

    Other big pharmaceutical companies have hired public affairs experts with long backgrounds in Republican circles in order to navigate the administration’s pressures on the industry, a source at a European drugmaker told Reuters on Friday.

    Trump says Ozempic price in U.S. will be lowered

    Shares of Novo and Lilly fell on Friday after Trump said that the price of Novo’s Ozempic diabetes treatment would be lowered. Ozempic contains the same active ingredient as its weight-loss drug Wegovy.

    Miley spent the past decade at AbbVie in Chicago and was promoted two years ago to senior vice president of government affairs, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry since 2004, building his career at U.S. drugmakers including more than four years in public affairs at Abbott and nearly five years at Pfizer.

    AbbVie did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Miley did not reply when contacted by Reuters earlier on Friday.

    Reporting by Maggie Fick in London and Stine Jacobsen in Copenhagen, Editing by Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan and Cynthia Osterman

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  • Shot Gate? Costco Enters Weight Loss Chat With Discounted Ozempic & The Timeline Erupts (VIDEO)

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    If you’ve been side-eyeing those viral weight-loss shots but couldn’t justify the price tag, Costco just might’ve changed the game. The wholesale giant is now offering Wegovy and Ozempic — yep, the same blockbuster drugs all over your timeline — at a major discount for its members. And, let’s just say…the TL is shook.

    RELATED: Serena Williams Opens Up About 31-Pound Weight Loss With Meds & Social Media Is Sounding Off (VIDEO)

    Costco’s Drug Deal Shakes Up Weight Loss Market

    According to drugmaker Novo Nordisk, Costco pharmacies are selling the medications for $499 a month for self-pay members — way less than the list price of $1,349. And, if you’ve got that Executive Membership or use a Costco Citibank Visa, you can snatch an extra 2% off. Novo Nordisk says this collab is all about access, especially as they compete with Eli Lilly’s rival meds, Zepbound and Mounjaro, while also trying to edge out those unregulated compounded versions flooding medical spas and telehealth sites.

    Social Media Split Over Costco’s Weight Loss Move

    One Instagram user @fullfigureblackbarbie said, “Now I’m going to try it“

    And, Instagram user @4beautiful_mel added, “Welp looks like I’m signing up with Costco 😂”

    Instagram user @holland7367 commented, “$500 is still outrageous“

    Meanwhile, Instagram user @therealdjstacks shared, “Ain’t Ozempic getting sued like crazy right now 😆”

    While Instagram user @mr.6foot9 commented, “This sh*t going to ruin life’s later on lol“

    Then Instagram user @crownthyking wrote, “Imagine a lady in a apron saying you ‘want to try [a] shot’ in Costco 🤣”

    Instagram user @fantoine14 said, “Is it the Kirkland brand 😂😂😂”

    Lastly, Instagram user @ajo_mvv added, “Any employee discounts? If so, where do I apply?“

    Ozempic Hype Grows As Costco Joins In

    But, make no mistake, this is still big business. Wegovy and Ozempic are FDA-approved GLP-1 injections that help curb appetite and promote weight loss. While Ozempic is officially for Type 2 diabetes, both drugs have been flying off shelves thanks to their off-label use for dropping pounds. With Costco entering the chat, folks might finally get their hands on these meds without blowing the budget — and let’s just say, the girls (and the guys) are ready to load up the cart.

    RELATED: Don’t Get It Twisted! Lizzo Addresses Ozempic Rumors & Reveals Truth Behind Her Weight Loss (VIDEO)

    What Do You Think Roomies?

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  • Costco is selling weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy at discounted prices

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    Costco now is selling Ozempic and Wegovy at discounted prices, a move that expands access to the popular weight-loss drugs.

    Costco members with prescriptions can purchase the drugs out-of-pocket for $499 per month, a cost that is well below list prices. For members with health insurance, the price will depend on their plans. The sticker price for Ozempic is about $1,000; Wegovy costs $1,350.

    MORE: Long-term study on HPV vaccinations finds evidence of herd immunity

    Novo Nordisk, the Danish company that manufacturers Ozempic and Wegovy, already offers the drugs at $499 on its website, and also at CVS and Walmart. 

    “We want to make sure we offer the real, authentic Wegovy and Ozempic where patients seek care,” David Moore, executive vice president of Novo Nordisk’s U.S. Operations, told NBC News on Friday. “We know that Costco is a trusted brand.

    “Those patients that have coverage will receive the medicine on average for $25 a month,” Moore added. “But that doesn’t cover everyone, so we wanted to make sure there’s a self-pay option available as well.” 

    A Novo Nordisk spokesperson said Monday that Costo’s executive members and customers with a Costco Citibank Visa credit card also will receive a cash back reward and an additional 2% discount when purchasing the drugs. 

    Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

    Ozempic and Wegovy are GLP-1 drugs, a classification that also includes Zepbound, a medication made by Eli Lilly. They help people lose weight by mimicking a hormone known as glucagon-like peptide 1 that slows digestion, regulates blood sugar and signals fullness to the brain. 

    Ozempic was approved as a diabetes drug; Wegovy and Zepbound were approved to treat obesity. But they have been used off label to help people lose weight. Studies also have suggested they may have additional health benefits, including reducing risk of heart disease, dementia and addiction to alcohol or nicotine.

    The demand for the drugs has skyrocketed in recent years ago. A 2024 survey found 1 in 8 adults said they have used a GLP-1 drugs. With so many people using the drugs, insurers say they have struggled to cover the costs, because the drugs must be taken indefinitely to maintain weight loss and other health benefits. 

    The Trump administration plans to roll out a five-year, experimental program that would allow state Medicaid programs and Medicare Part D plans to cover GLP-1 agonists for weight loss. Some state Medicaid programs, including those in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, cover the drugs for obesity, and Medicare covers them for diabetes. 

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  • Costco now sells Ozempic and Wegovy at its pharmacies

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    Costco to sell weight loss drugs



    Costco now selling weight loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy at a discount

    03:19

    Costco customers can now buy Ozempic and Wegovy at the discount chain’s drugstores.

    Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical firm that makes the weight-loss drugs, announced Friday that Ozempic and Wegovy are available at Costco pharmacies across the U.S. A one-month supply of the drugs at the retailer will run $499, the same price they are listed for on Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-consumer website, as well as at CVS and Walmart. 

    Ozempic and Wegovy typically retail for around $1,300 and $1,600, respectively, according to GoodRx, which compares drug prices from different pharmacies.

    Costco executive members and Costco Citibank Visa card holders also receive an additional 2% discount on Ozempic and Wegovy, a Novo Nordisk  spokesperson told CBS News in an email. Members of the discount chain will still require a prescription to obtain the weight-loss drugs. 

    “Our collaboration with Costco is another step forward by Novo Nordisk in making real Wegovy® and Ozempic easier to access and afford — right where people already shop,” Dave Moore, executive vice president for Novo Nordisk’s U.S. Operations, said in a statement.

    Costco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Ozempic and Wegovy are semaglutide weight-loss injection drugs that suppress users’ appetites, helping them lose weight. Ozempic is designed for adults with Type 2 diabetes and helps adults lower blood sugar. It also has been shown to reduce heart and kidney problems. 

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said last year that Wegovy, which unlike Ozempic has been FDA-approved for weight loss, could be used to reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart strokes in certain patients.

    Mary Cunningham

    Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. Before joining the business and finance vertical, she worked at “60 Minutes,” CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program.

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  • Costco now selling weight loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy at a discount

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    Costco now selling weight loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy at a discount – CBS News










































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    Shoppers can now find Ozempic and Wegovy at Costco. It says it is partnering with drugmaker Novo Nordisk to offer the drugs at a steep discount for members with a prescription. CBS News reporter Andres Gutierrez has more.

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  • Ozempic May Be Less Effective for Emotional Eaters, Study Suggests

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    GLP-1 agonists—so-called “wonder drugs” like Ozempic or Wegovy that help individuals lower blood sugar levels and lose weight, among other things—yield significant results for some patients, but not all. People’s motivations to overeat may play a role in this, according to a new study.

    To investigate why some people don’t benefit from GLP-1 agonists as much as others, researchers observed 92 participants with type 2 diabetes in Japan during their first year of taking GLP-1 drugs. Their results, published today in Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare, suggest that people who overeat due to external reasons—such as the sight or smell of delicious food—had greater chances of responding well to the drugs in the long term than people who overeat for emotional reasons.

    Who will benefit most from GLP-1 drugs?

    “Pre-treatment assessment of eating behavior patterns may help predict who will benefit most from GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy,” Daisuke Yabe, senior author of the study and a professor of diabetes, endocrinology, and nutrition at Kyoto University, said in a Frontiers statement. “GLP-1 receptor agonists are effective for individuals who experience weight gain or elevated blood glucose levels due to overeating triggered by external stimuli. However, their effectiveness is less expected in cases where emotional eating is the primary cause.”

    The team revealed this by gathering data on the participants’ body weight and composition, diet, and information such as blood glucose, cholesterol levels, and relationship with food at the beginning of the treatment, three months after, and one year after. They focused on emotional eating (eating in response to negative emotions), external eating (eating because the food looks good), and restrained eating (controlling one’s diet to lose weight). While it might seem contradictory, excessive restrained eating can actually result in disordered eating, according to the researchers.

    Over the year, the participants experienced a statistically significant loss of body weight and lowered cholesterol levels and body fat percentage without changing skeletal muscle mass. While blood glucose levels ameliorated, the improvement wasn’t statistically significant. There were, however, some variations depending on eating behaviors. Three months after the start of the treatment, participants reported more restrained eating and less external or emotional eating. By the end of the year, though, participants had returned to their original restrained and emotional eating habits.

    “One possible explanation is that emotional eating is more strongly influenced by psychological factors which may not be directly addressed by GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy,” said Takehiro Kato, second author of the article and a researcher from Gifu University, “Individuals with prominent emotional eating tendencies may require additional behavioral or psychological support.”

    External eating lessened over the year of treatment

    Participants reported decreased external eating throughout the entire year, and individuals that claimed high levels of external eating at the beginning of the treatment saw the greatest benefits in blood glucose levels and weight loss. On the other hand, the team didn’t identify any association between emotional or restrained eating scores at the beginning and drug benefits by the 12-month mark.

    “While our study suggests a potential association between external eating behavior and treatment response to GLP-1 receptor agonists, these findings remain preliminary,” explained Yabe. What’s more, the team’s study was observational, and participants self-reported information, meaning the researchers revealed a potential association, not a causation.

    “Further evidence is necessary before they can be implemented in clinical practice. Should future large-scale or randomized controlled trials validate this relationship, incorporating simple behavioral assessments could become a valuable component in optimizing treatment strategies,” Yabe concluded.

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    Margherita Bassi

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  • The Novo Nordisk scientist behind Ozempic, Wegovy weight loss research

    The Novo Nordisk scientist behind Ozempic, Wegovy weight loss research

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    The Novo Nordisk scientist behind Ozempic, Wegovy weight loss research – CBS News


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    Drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have slimmed down Hollywood stars — and millions of non-celebrities worldwide — while adding great heft to the economy of Novo Nordisk’s home country, Denmark.

    Be the first to know

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  • Macy Gray Opens Up About Being On Ozempic & Its Side Effects

    Macy Gray Opens Up About Being On Ozempic & Its Side Effects

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    Singer and actress Macy Gray has opened up about her experience using Ozempic and dealing with its side effects.

    RELATED: Khloé Kardashian Speaks On Ozempic While Opening Up About Her Weight Loss Journey

    Macy Gray Opens Up About Using Ozempic

    According to PEOPLE, Gray opened up about her experience with the medication during a recently aired episode of MTV’s ‘The Surreal Life.’ The 56-year-old was reportedly speaking to her castmates about how Ozempic impacted her digestive system.

    “Oh boy, my stomach hurts. I’ve just been really constipated,” Gray reportedly told her castmates, reflecting on the experience. “I took Ozempic. I can’t go to the bathroom, and I was up all night.”

    The outlet adds that during a confessional on the show, Gray delved into her reasoning behind using the medication.

    “Quietly, I’m kind of a vain person. I’ve gained a lot of weight over the past couple years…” she reportedly explained. “So, I thought, okay, I’m not taking [the weight] off the right way, let me see if I can get one of these Ozempic.”

    Additionally, Gray explained that she was trying to lose weight ahead of her time on ‘The Surreal Life.’

    “I was actually trying to take it off [the weight] before the show because I didn’t want to be super fat on TV, but here we are,” she said.

    A New Study Has Revealed More Information About Ozempic Use

    Amid Gray’s recent comments, a new study has reportedly revealed more information about the potential benefits of using the medication. According to Newsweek, researchers from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have been looking into the possibility that Ozempic could curb one’s desire to smoke cigarettes.

    Their study reportedly utilized the experiences of Ozempic users with type 2 diabetes, “who noted a decreased desire to smoke while taking the medication.”

    Additionally, researchers are reportedly looking into Ozempic’s effects on “treating tobacco use disorders (TUD).” However, the outlet notes that “further clinical trials” will need to be conducted.

    Khloé Kardashian Previously Spoke About The Diabetes-Turned-Weightloss Drug

    Meanwhile, Gray isn’t the only celebrity who recently opened up about their experience with the diabetes-turned-weight loss drug. As The Shade Room previously reported, Kandi Burruss spoke about her experience with the medication in June.

    At the time, Burruss revealed to Page Six that she took the drug in 2023. However, it failed to curb her appetite.

    “The sad thing about it is when you see it work for other people and it doesn’t work for you, it makes you depressed,” she explained. “…It makes you feel like, ‘What’s wrong with me? Why is it not working for me?’”

    Ultimately, Burruss explained that after she stepped away from Ozempic and took a fresh approach to her weight loss, she began to achieve her goals.

    RELATED: Kandi Burruss Opens Up About Her Experience With Ozempic

    What Do You Think Roomies?

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  • Don’t Look Now, But Ozempic Might Help You Quit Smoking, Too

    Don’t Look Now, But Ozempic Might Help You Quit Smoking, Too

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    Semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, may help people quit smoking, too. New research published Monday has found evidence that semaglutide can prevent or treat people’s nicotine dependence. More study will be needed to confirm this potential benefit, however.

    Semaglutide and other newer GLP-1 drugs have proven to be substantially more effective at helping people lose weight than diet and exercise alone. But scientists at Case Western Reserve University, led by researcher Rong Xu, have been studying the possible effects of semaglutide and similar drugs that might extend beyond treating weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Earlier this month, for instance, they published a study finding that GLP-1 drugs may be able to reduce the overall risk of obesity-related cancer in people with diabetes. Their new research, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at the connection between semaglutide use and nicotine use disorder.

    The researchers analyzed the health records of over 200,000 diabetes patients after they were newly prescribed one of several antidiabetes medications, including nearly 6,000 people who were prescribed semaglutide. They found that semaglutide users were noticeably less likely to be diagnosed with tobacco use disorder or to be given treatments for it (i.e., drugs or counseling) over the following year. This pattern held true when the researchers only looked at people with or without obesity as well.

    “While there are effective medications to support people if they wish to stop smoking, not everyone responds to them,” said Xu, a biomedical informatics professor at Case Western, in a statement from the university. “As a result of the high relapse rates, alternative medications to help people stop smoking are needed.”

    The team’s findings alone cannot prove that semaglutide and similar drugs can help treat tobacco addiction. But anecdotes and some studies (including one by the same scientists published in May) have increasingly suggested that GLP-1 drugs can temper harmful cravings caused by other vices such as alcohol and even gambling. As a result, scientists elsewhere have begun to test out semaglutide for alcohol use disorder in clinical trials (with early promising results so far)—a trend that should be followed with nicotine as well, the authors say. “These findings suggest the need for clinical trials to evaluate semaglutide’s potential for [tobacco use disorder] treatment,” they wrote in their paper.

    From potentially preventing cancer to possibly keeping our brains sharper as we reach our later years, is there anything that semaglutide can’t do?

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    Ed Cara

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  • Can You Consume Marijuana On Ozempic

    Can You Consume Marijuana On Ozempic

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    It is all the rage to lose weight and is causing a stir for several reason.  But can you have a a bit of a vape and chill while on it?

    The latest weight loss trend has been the use of Ozempic. A Gallup poll suggested over 6% of adults in the US and Canada have tried it. So over 16+ million have given it a go. Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, Sharon Osbourne, Chelsea Handler, Dolores Catania, Oprah, and Charles Barkley have all tried it. Millions of people struggle with weight and their body image. In the last 12 months 56% of women and almost 42% of men have tried to slim down. And the new hot drug is seen as the silver bullet. But what if you want to relax and chill out while taking it? Can you consume marijuana on Ozempic?

    RELATED: 5 Morning Activities To Help You Feel Happier

    Some people enjoy eating, the taste of the food and the ritual of dining alone or with friends. Dieting and other weight loss programs are often seen as a punshment or negative. And if you want to chill out, alcohol usually interferes with a slimming routines due to sugar and how it is absorbed in the body. But marijuana is a different story. Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone. As those hormone levels rise, the molecules go to your brain, telling it you’re full. It also slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body. This is similar to the effect of bariatric surgery.

    With limited research and data, it seems small amounts of alcohol, such as 1-2 drinks per day with food, are generally considered safe based on initial studies. However, alcohol is known to interfere with blood sugar control mechanisms, which Ozempic is aimed at improving. So there could be issue around the success of the routine.

    Marijuana thought it different in its makeup and how the body absorbs it. Currently, there hasn’t be in research or data showing marijuana interferes with the drug. But, keep in mind Ozempic may interact with oral forms of cannabis (forms you swallow), such as tablets, capsules, gummies and other edibles.

    RELATED: The Most Popular Marijuana Flavors

    The side effects can be troublesome and include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and at times diarrhea. These are related  to the same concept regarding the movement of the bowels and the stomach. The benefits come somehow from the same pathway. Beyond gastrointestinal symptoms, the medication can also cause rash, gallbladder issues, abdominal pain.  It is allows important to talk to health professional when starting something which can have an impact on your body and organs.

     

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  • Use Of Wegovy And Other Weight-Loss Drugs Soar Among Kids And Young Adults – KXL

    Use Of Wegovy And Other Weight-Loss Drugs Soar Among Kids And Young Adults – KXL

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    FILE – The injectable drug Ozempic is shown Saturday, July 1, 2023, in Houston. Even as millions of older adults clamor for drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, monthly use of the medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists soared nearly 600% between 2020 and 2023 in people under 25 – and as young as 12. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

    (Associated Press) – Use of diabetes and obesity medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and other so-called GLP-1 drugs has soared among teens and young adults.

    New research shows that the number of 12- to 25-year-olds who used the medications climbed from about 8,700 a month in 2020 to 60,000 a month in 2023.

    Overall, in 2023, nearly 31,000 children aged 12 to 17 and more than 162,000 people aged 18 to 25 received the drugs.

    The report was published Wednesday in the journal JAMA.

    It’s the first look at the national uptake of these medications in those age groups.

    More about:

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    Grant McHill

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  • Hims & Hers says it’s selling a GLP-1 weight loss drug for 85% less than Wegovy. Here’s the price.

    Hims & Hers says it’s selling a GLP-1 weight loss drug for 85% less than Wegovy. Here’s the price.

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    Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical startup Hims & Hers Health said it is selling injectable GLP-1 weight loss drugs for a fraction of the cost of brand-name competitors such as Wegovy and Ozempic. Following the announcement, shares of the telehealth company soared more than 30% Monday.

    Hims & Hers will provide patients with compounded GLP-1 drugs that start at $199 a month, or about 85% less than brand-name versions like Ozempic and Wegovy. The injectables use the same active ingredients as the branded versions, which currently are in short supply in some doses.

    Shares of Hims & Hers soared $4.21, or 29%, to $18.79 in Monday afternoon trading.

    GLP-1 drugs, which stands for glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists, help people feel fuller and less hungry, aiding their efforts to lose weight. But the brand-name versions made by a handful of pharmaceutical companies can be pricey, with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy costing about $1,350 a month, or more than $16,00 a year, without insurance, according to GoodRx. 

    Hims & Hers Health’s may also beat out competitors on another key metric: availability. The startup said its GLP-1 injectable drug, which is made in partnership with a manufacturer of compounded injectable medications, will have “consistent” availability.

    The company added that it will also sell brand-name versions of GLP-1 drugs, once supply rebounds. 

    “We’ve leveraged our size and scale to secure access to one of the highest-quality supplies of compounded GLP-1 injections available today,” Hims & Hers Health CEO and co-founder Andrew Dudum said in a statement Monday. “We’re passing that access and value along to our customers, who deserve the highest standard of clinical safety and efficacy to meet their goals, and we’re doing it in a safe, affordable way that others can’t deliver.”

    Customers will need a prescription from their medical provider, based on what is “medically appropriate and necessary for each patient,” the company said. 

    The company is tapping an opportunity to profit by focusing on Americans’ desire to slim down. It already has an existing weight-loss program that is on track to bring in more than $100 million in revenue by 2025, with the program selling oral weight-loss medications for about $79 per month.

    Compounded drugs are made by pharmacists to tailor a medication to a patient or if some drugs are in short supply. To be sure, the Food and Drug Administration warns that patients should not use compounded drugs when approved drugs are available to patients.

    The agency does not review compounded GLP-1 medications for safety, and said it has received “adverse event reports” from patients who have used compounded semaglutide medications. 

    Some consumers have turned to compounded versions of the medications as demand for brand name drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, dubbed “miracle drugs” by users who have slimmed down, soars and strains supply.

    Megan Cerullo

    Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.

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  • Rebel Wilson Reveals She Tried Ozempic Because Of ‘Bottomless Appetite For Sweets’! – Perez Hilton

    Rebel Wilson Reveals She Tried Ozempic Because Of ‘Bottomless Appetite For Sweets’! – Perez Hilton

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    Rebel Wilson once took a dip in the weight loss drug pool!

    As we’ve all seen and been stunned by, the Pitch Perfect star set out on a “year of health” in 2020, making a MAJOR physical change by dropping an impressive 80 pounds. But while she may not have used weight loss drugs to shed the weight, she did dabble to help keep it off.

    Related: Tracy Morgan Says He GAINED Weight On Ozempic — Here’s How!

    During an interview with The Sunday Times published over the weekend, the 44-year-old opened up about her weight loss journey and how she tried Ozempic after losing the weight to make sure she didn’t gain it back. She told the outlet:

    “Someone like me could have a bottomless appetite for sweets, so I think those drugs can be good.”

    Relatable! But she said she’s since quit taking the injectable, instead opting for a more “curvy and solid” physique. She told the outlet:

    “I feel strongly that young women shouldn’t try to obsess over looking like Victoria’s Secret models — they should just look like themselves. I know that my relationship with food is complicated.”

    Inneresting, especially since she was so adamant that she didn’t use any “magic weight loss pills” … We guess she technically didn’t lie since she didn’t use Ozempic to shed the weight — and since it’s not a pill! Ha!

    Back in January, the Bridesmaids actress opened up about gaining 30 pounds back between shooting movies and working on her memoir Rebel Rising. She dished at the time:

    “It’s just been a LOT and I’ve lost focus on my healthy lifestyle.”

    We’re sure she’ll be able to refocus after her book drops next week!

    As for why she dropped the weight in the first place, Rebel told The Sunday Times that a fertility doc encouraged her to do so for better chances at IVF — despite what she thinks Hollywood may have wanted for her. She dished:

    “Basically no one apart from my mom wanted me to lose weight. People thought I’d lose my pigeonhole in my career, playing the fat funny character, and they wanted me to continue in that.”

    Well, it’s clear she’s just as successful as ever!

    Rebel welcomed daughter Royce Lillian Elizabeth Wilson via surrogate in late 2022, and got engaged to fiancée Ramona Agruma in early 2023.

    Thoughts on her revelation, Perezcious readers? Are you surprised to hear she tried Ozempic? Let us know down in the comments.

    [Images via FayesVision/MEGA/WENN]

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    Perez Hilton

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  • Worst Side Effects Ozempic Users Don’t Want You To Know About

    Worst Side Effects Ozempic Users Don’t Want You To Know About

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    While diarrhea is listed as a common side effect, none of the literature tells you that you will experience horrific visions of future wars, famines, and natural disasters every time you have a bowel movement—and worst of all, no one will believe you.

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