Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar told Reuters that oral weight-loss medications could represent up to half of the global obesity drug market by 2030, as the Danish drugmaker positions itself for a shift toward pill-based treatments alongside its injectable GLP-1 drugs.
Roche acquired rights to Hanmi Pharmaceutical's obesity drug for $190 million upfront and up to $2.3 billion total. The drug is designed to activate receptors in skeletal muscle to increase muscle mass while reducing fat, addressing a key concern with current GLP-1 weight loss medications.
Hims & Hers Health reported a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss as the telehealth company's shift to branded weight-loss drugs drove up costs, sending shares down 6% in extended trading. The company plans to enter the peptides market before year-end.
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reported that more than 200 deaths have been linked to weight loss medications including Wegovy and Mounjaro, with the majority associated with tirzepatide. The data also shows approximately 18,000 adverse reactions have been reported.
New research published in The BMJ shows that tirzepatide (Mounjaro), a GLP-1 receptor agonist, reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events by 33% in type 2 diabetes patients with existing heart disease. A separate study also found that consistent medication adherence among diabetes patients reduces heart disease risk by 27%.
New research indicates that Mounjaro (tirzepatide) significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks in type 2 diabetes patients who also have heart disease, with a 33% reduction observed in those receiving the medication.
New research published in The BMJ shows that tirzepatide (Mounjaro), a GLP-1 receptor agonist, reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events by 33% in type 2 diabetes patients with existing heart disease. A separate study also found that consistent medication adherence among diabetes patients reduces heart disease risk by 27%.
A new study shows that tirzepatide (Mounjaro), a GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, reduces heart attack risk by 33% when added to standard care for patients with both type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease. The findings come as worldwide sales of the drug doubled to £13.8 billion in the first half of 2026.
Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced it will allow a limited number of patients with severe obesity to access its unapproved experimental drug retatrutide through a compassionate use program, following a case where it granted the drug to a 79-year-old patient. The program has strict eligibility criteria that most patients cannot meet.
Brazil's health regulator Anvisa approved five new injectable GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and obesity treatment, following expedited regulatory reviews after Ozempic's patent expired in the country in March 2026.
Eli Lilly announced positive results from two additional Phase 3 trials of its experimental obesity drug retatrutide (a 'triple-G' GLP-1 receptor agonist), showing it did not increase overall heart risk. The company plans to submit an FDA application in Q1 2027.
India's drug regulator approved Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious form of fatty liver disease, expanding the drug's approved uses beyond weight loss.
The European Commission has approved Novo Nordisk's once-daily Wegovy pill for weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight, marking the first oral GLP-1 weight-loss treatment cleared for use across the European Union.
Researchers found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, slowed biological aging markers in adults with HIV, marking the first clinical evidence that the drug may influence human aging beyond its metabolic effects.
Indian drugmaker Dr. Reddy's Laboratories announced it is delaying commercial production of its generic semaglutide (Ozempic) after discovering an unspecified issue with the active pharmaceutical ingredient in some batches. Shares fell as much as 6.5%.
On July 9, 2026, China's National Health Commission added injectable semaglutide and 115 other drugs to its National Essential Medicines List — the first update in eight years — expanding the catalog to 794 medicines effective September 1, 2026, while domestic oral GLP-1 candidates from Hengrui and Gan & Lee advanced in clinical trials.
A secret shopper investigation of 49 websites prescribing GLP-1 weight loss drugs confirmed experts' concerns about inadequate clinical oversight and fast, easy prescriptions with minimal medical evaluation.
Lawsuits over vision loss risks from Saxenda (liraglutide) emerge as Medicare begins covering GLP-1 medications for seniors over 65, raising questions about proper usage and safety in older populations.
GLP-1 drugs from Pfizer and Innovent Biologics have cleared preliminary review to potentially be included in China's basic medical insurance drug catalogue, which would expand access to these treatments.
Eli Lilly provided its experimental 'triple-G' weight loss drug retatrutide to a 79-year-old patient through the FDA's compassionate use program, marking an extremely rare instance of pre-approval access to an obesity medication.
New research published in JAMA Otolaryngology analyzing health records from nearly 900,000 patients suggests long-term use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro for diabetes management is associated with increased risks of smell and taste disturbances, though experts note these side effects are not common.
Poison control centers have experienced a sharp increase in calls related to semaglutide medications (Ozempic and Wegovy) following their approval for weight management, with researchers finding most cases stem from preventable dosing mistakes such as daily instead of weekly injections or confusion about proper dosage units.
CVS Health announced it will add Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug Zepbound back to some of its drug lists as an additional preferred option and begin coverage for the drugmaker's newly approved obesity pill, Forza.
Eli Lilly announced positive results from its Phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 trial showing retatrutide, an experimental triple-agonist obesity drug, achieved average weight loss of 28.3% at 80 weeks and 30.3% at 104 weeks on the highest dose, matching weight reduction levels typically seen with bariatric surgery.
New ethics disclosures reveal President Trump purchased stock in Eli Lilly and an injectable device manufacturer while his health agencies implemented policies benefiting these companies' obesity drug products.
Novo Nordisk's stock price and earnings received a boost following less-negative news about the development of an oral version of its blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy, marking progress in the company's efforts to create a pill formulation.
France's medicines regulator has imposed fines on Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for their weight loss drug advertising campaigns, marking a significant regulatory action against the pharmaceutical giants' marketing practices.
A clinical trial of 108 adults with obesity and alcohol use disorder found that once-weekly semaglutide injections reduced heavy drinking days in the past 30 days by an average of roughly 12 days, representing a 50% reduction compared to placebo.
Medical professionals and researchers are expressing serious concerns about GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like Ozempic being misused by people with eating disorders or triggering disordered eating behaviors, with patients describing the drugs as addictive and relapse-inducing.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that its temporary BALANCE model program to cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity in Medicare will not launch as scheduled in January, effectively extending the current coverage approach.
Mayo Clinic study finds metabolic and bariatric surgery provides significantly greater long-term cardiovascular risk reduction compared to GLP-1 medications in people with obesity, despite both treatments improving heart health.
Researchers who developed GLP-1 obesity medications are now advancing a provocative hypothesis that targeting the GLP-1 hormone may not be necessary for effective weight loss, potentially reshaping the approach to obesity treatment.
Medical professionals and patients on social media are increasingly reporting a phenomenon called 'Ozempic personality,' characterized by emotional flattening and reduced ability to experience joy while taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss.
New research reveals that approximately 10% of people carry specific genetic variants that make popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy significantly less effective, providing the first genetic explanation for variable drug response.
University of Pennsylvania researchers used AI to analyze over 400,000 Reddit posts to identify patient-reported symptoms associated with semaglutide and tirzepatide that may not be captured in clinical trials.
