The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering stricter border controls for GLP-1 weight loss drugs due to illegal imports from China and online platforms. The agency is also proposing amendments to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act to hold online platforms accountable for hosting illegal drug sales.
CVS Health will restore coverage of Eli Lilly's weight loss injection Zepbound on Oct. 1 and add coverage of its new obesity pill Foundayo on June 1, making both GLP-1 medications co-preferred options on its standard commercial formulary, affecting 25-30 million Americans and boosting Lilly's market position against Novo Nordisk.
A Peking Union Medical College Hospital physician advises caution with rapid weight loss methods, including "slimming injections" and diabetes medications. These are prescription drugs with specific indications and potential side effects, requiring specialist evaluation and not for self-purchase or arbitrary use. The expert specifically warns against their use in individuals under 18 due to potential impacts on growth and development.
India has become one of the first countries to introduce cheaper, generic brands of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, but health professionals warn a lack of regulation and oversight is causing problems.
India has become one of the first countries to introduce cheaper, generic brands of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, but health professionals warn a lack of regulation and oversight is causing problems.
Millions of people with Medicare will soon be eligible to get discounted GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Here's how it will work.
Deloitte research reveals pharmaceutical R&D returns for top 20 companies reached 7% in 2025, the highest in years, driven almost entirely by GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs. However, excluding these assets, returns plummet to just 2.9%. For the first time in 16 years, obesity treatments have surpassed oncology as the largest contributor to late-stage pipeline value, raising concerns about concentrated risk and a potential bubble effect.
Research shows 12 million people lost coverage for Zepbound and 12 million for Wegovy from 2025 to 2026, with 88% of those who still have coverage facing restrictions. Patients like Meghan Lena, a Massachusetts teacher, describe losing coverage twice within months and being forced to pay $300 monthly for compounded alternatives or face treatment interruption.
