It’s no secret that Ozempic isn’t going anywhere, but the weight loss drug category does seem to be rapidly evolving.
“These medications are the most effective thing we’ve ever had for acute treatment of obesity,” said Dr. Alexandra Sowa, obesity expert, founder of GLP-1 support brand SoWell and author of “The Ozempic Revolution.” “More and more people are going to be on these drugs. The users are going to continue to increase.”
Meanwhile, some brands opted for a more competitive approach, offering natural alternatives to drugs — think Lemme’s GLP-1 Daily, $90; Arrae’s MB-1, $65; Kind Patches GLP-1 Patches, $15; Pendulum’s GLP-1 Probiotic, $64, and Veracity’s Metabolism Ignite, $75. As these drugs have become more commonplace, consumers, not necessarily eligible, have begun to discuss how they can use the drug differently than what is suggested. For example, GLP-1 microdosing, taking small amounts of the drug rather than the intended dosage, recently became a trend, something doctors are quick to advise against.
“The FDA has been accelerating approval of these drugs the process because there’s such high demand and need,” said Sowa. While early research shows positive results for diseases like addiction and Alzheimer’s, Fitch said these are much further out. While there are an array of bright spots in the category, experts predict major challenges, particularly in terms of insurance coverage and the conversation surrounding the drugs.