Oncobesity News Posts

Hormone Therapy May Boost Weight Loss on Wegovy, But Not as Much on Zepbound
Tuesday, October 27 – New research shows that using hormone therapy with a GLP-1 during menopause may lead to greater weight loss. Tatsiana Volkava · Moment/Getty
A study presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society found that women using menopause hormone therapy (MHT) alongside semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) experienced greater weight loss than those taking semaglutide alone.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) combined with MHT showed only modest early differences in weight loss, with no statistically significant difference at later time points.
Certain hormone therapy medications are FDA-approved to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, but not for weight loss.

Novo Can’t Get ‘Deceptive’ Lilly GLP-1 Ads Blocked Amid Suit
Tuesday, October 27 – A New Jersey federal judge on Monday refused to issue an injunction blocking Eli Lilly & Co. from running ads allegedly comparing its GLP-1 drug to Novo Nordisk Inc.’s using “outdated” clinical trials and “false superiority messages,” ruling that Novo Nordisk hasn’t shown it would be irreparably harmed.

GLP-1s Tied to Lower Rates of MS Relapse Activity, Real-World Study Shows
Tuesday, October 27 – (MedPage Today) — Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exposed to a GLP-1 receptor agonist had lower rates of relapse activity and steroid use, reduced incidence of optic neuritis, and fewer demyelinating events compared with those who didn’t use…

GLP-1s May Interact With Psychiatry Medication, Case Report Suggests
Tuesday, October 27 – (MedPage Today) — During an appointment with her psychiatrist, a 50-year-old woman with bipolar disorder reported new symptoms of tremor in both hands, slurred speech, and blurred vision.
She was taking lithium, but 3 weeks prior, she had also…

Ascletis files IND for selective amylin receptor agonist ASC-39
Tuesday, October 27 – Ascletis Pharma Inc. has submitted an IND application to the FDA for ASC-39 oral tablets, an oral small-molecule selective amylin receptor agonist, for the treatment of obesity. A phase I trial is expected to begin in the fourth quarter.

How This Former Weightlifter Lost 80 Pounds After GLP-1s Stopped Working
Monday, October 26 – After trying diets and GLP-1 medications without lasting weight loss, former competitive weightlifter Dana Bichler (pictured above) lost more than 80 pounds following a minimally invasive procedure. Photo: Dana Bichler
Former competitive weightlifter Dana Bichler lost more than 80 pounds after undergoing endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), a minimally invasive weight loss procedure.
After struggling with weight regain despite dieting and trying GLP-1 medications, Bichler pursued ESG amid concerns about his obesity-related fatty liver disease.

Early research suggests petrelintide may have fewer GI effects than GLP-1s
Sunday, October 25 – Early research suggests petrelintide may have fewer GI effects than GLP-1.

Trump’s Nickname For GLP-1s Has Doctors And Patients Raising An Important Concern
Sunday, October 25 – Despite the president’s comments, patients say these medications have been life-changing, and their effectiveness cannot be ignored.

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief: The Good and the Hard of Life on GLP-1s
Saturday, October 24 – GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have changed daily life for millions of people, though side effects are common. Photo by Getty
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide can lead to significant weight loss and may help reduce inflammation, improve mobility, and quiet persistent thoughts about food. Many people report life changing results after years of unsuccessful diets.
A Healthline story on Mayim Bialik’s GLP-1 side effects became our most engaged Facebook post of the year, as thousands of commenters shared hard side effects and life changing results. Research also increasingly links GLP-1s to benefits beyond weight loss.

Here’s how GLP-1 drugs are changing how people shop
Friday, October 23 – New research on GLP-1 drug usage from EY-Parthenon shows that weight loss is now the most popular use of the drug once dedicated to diabetes patients. CBS News’ Megan Cerullo reports on how the drugs are changing spending habits for users.

“Soul-Crushing Exhaustion”: 29 Women On GLP-1s Share The Side Effects And Experiences No One’s Been Talking About, And It’s Refreshingly Honest
Friday, October 23 – “I took GLP-1s and was miserable the whole time. I basically felt like I was pregnant.”View Entire Post ›

Early uptake for oral semaglutide proves rapid relative to injectables
Friday, October 23 – Early uptake was rapid for oral semaglutide (Wegovy pill) relative to injectable incretin-based weight management therapies, according to a study published online Oct. 13 in Annals of Internal Medicine.

More people now use GLP-1s to lose weight than for other health issues
Friday, October 23 – Growing usage of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss is reshaping how consumers shop for food and clothes, according to consulting firm EY-Parthenon.

GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs change how people eat, but nausea needs closer study
Friday, October 23 – Someone taking a weight-loss drug might leave half their dinner because they feel comfortably full. They might also stop because they feel nauseous. Measuring the leftovers would reveal the same result, but tell researchers little about why the person stopped eating.

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a U.S. rule on Chinese deals, Belgium refusing Mounjaro coverage, and more
Friday, October 23 – U.S. is poised to issue a proposed rule that would subject outbound licensing deals with Chinese biotech companies to additional scrutiny

STAT+: Telehealth leapfrogs FDA approval with off-label GLP-1 prescriptions for addiction
Friday, October 23 – As telehealth promotes GLP-1s for addiction, experts worry about fragmented care, and exposing patients to unknown risks.

Ozempic plus hormone therapy may help boost weight loss at menopause
Thursday, October 22 – Ozempic plus hormone therapy may help boost weight loss at menopause.

AAO: Sequential nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy occurs earlier with GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure
Thursday, October 22 – For patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist exposure is associated with earlier sequential NAION, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held Oct. 9 to 12 in New Orleans.

AAO: Association between GLP-1 receptor agonists and age-related macular degeneration explored
Thursday, October 22 – Crude odds ratios suggest an increased risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in association with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use, but this finding is reversed after adjustment for cardiometabolic confounding variables, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, held Oct. 9 to 12 in New Orleans.

Ultrasounds for Schizophrenia; ‘Circadian’ Depression; GLP-1s and Eating Disorders
Thursday, October 22 – (MedPage Today) — A single, 10-minute transcranial ultrasound session led to a modest but significant drop in delusion scores among people with schizophrenia in a sham-controlled pilot trial. (npj Acoustics)
President Trump announced that the…

Started a GLP‑1 drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro? Here’s what you need to know about nutrition
Thursday, October 22 – Around half a million Australians use GLP-1 medications for diabetes—and when you add people who use them for obesity and weight-related conditions, the total is much higher.

Another Incretin Drug Proves Mettle in Sleep Apnea
Thursday, October 22 – (MedPage Today) — Treatment with the novel triple agonist retatrutide improved obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity or overweight regardless of type 2 diabetes, two parallel randomized clinical trials showed.
Mean reduction in…

Novo’s CagriSema achieves 25% weight loss in women, driven by younger patients
Wednesday, October 21 – Post hoc analyses in women divided by menopausal status show how Novo’s next-generation GLP-1 drug affects key cohorts of patients.

1 in 4 Army Men Have Low T; GLP-1 in Menopause; Retatrutide Side Effects on Reddit
Wednesday, October 21 – (MedPage Today) — Roughly a quarter of active-duty U.S. Army men had a single morning testosterone concentration under 300 ng/dL, a commonly used cutoff for low testosterone. (JAMA)
Nearly half of American women ages 40 to 60 reported menopausal…

Hormone therapy may increase weight-loss effectiveness of GLP-1s
Wednesday, October 21 – The success stories of GLP-1 weight-loss medications are dominating the airwaves. Midlife women, who commonly experience weight gain resulting from menopause, have been especially drawn to the drugs.

GLP-1 drugs linked to lower kidney failure risk in bipolar disorder
Tuesday, October 20 – Mayo Clinic researchers found that GLP-1 receptor agonists, medications widely used for diabetes and weight management, were associated with a lower risk of dialysis or kidney transplantation in adults with bipolar disorder and chronic kidney disease.

Should amylin have been obesity therapeutics’ primary target from the start?
Tuesday, October 20 – While GLP-1 medicines have become synonymous with weight loss, at least one expert thinks amylin would have been the go-to target if biopharma had been focused on the blockbuster indication 10 years ago. A new wave of therapies is now exploring this potentially gentler mechanism.

GLP-1 drugs linked to lower risk of serious heart-related complications and infections after surgery
Monday, October 19 – GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also help protect people from serious complications after surgery. People taking GLP-1 medications had lower rates of major heart-related complications and infections after surgery than those not taking the drugs, according to results of a study of more than 2 million adults undergoing surgery presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting.

Engineers use AI, Reddit to identify potential side effects of unapproved new GLP-1
Saturday, October 17 – Retatrutide, a next-generation GLP-1 weight-loss drug, is not yet approved for use. Nevertheless, online forums reveal that people are purchasing unapproved versions of the drug, which are not intended for human consumption, and sharing their experiences.

Schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes are linked, but GLP-1s could help manage the risks
Friday, October 16 – Treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) was associated with lower risks of psychiatric hospitalization and psychiatric emergency department visits in people with both schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes (T2D), compared with no GLP-1 treatment or treatment with newer diabetes medications, according to new research published in The Lancet Psychiatry.

Ozempic and Wegovy linked to rare risk of sudden vision loss
Friday, October 16 – Popular diabetes and weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have been linked to a slightly increased risk of a rare condition that can cause sudden, potentially permanent vision loss. Although the risk remains very low, Rutgers researchers say the findings warrant attention as millions of people turn to GLP-1 medications.

Trial finds 2 strategies to maintain weight loss results after stopping GLP-1s
Thursday, October 15 – Trial finds 2 strategies to maintain weight loss results after stopping GLP-1s.

Verdiva ends mid-stage study of oral GLP-1 amid ‘market evolution’
Thursday, October 15 – The candidate is an oral version of ecnoglutide, a subcutaneous formulation of which is approved in China for type 2 diabetes and weight management. Pfizer owns commercialization rights for ecnoglutide in the Asian country.

New study examines GLP-1 impact on interactions with criminal justice system, employment, housing stability
Thursday, October 15 – A wave of clinical trials have begun to test the ability of GLP-1 weight loss drugs to quell various substance use disorders, with some promising results. A new trial announced…

These Are The Most Common GLP-1 Side Effects — And What Doctors Say You Need For Relief
Thursday, October 15 – Doctors suggest digestive aids, protein supplements, skin care and more.

Orforglipron shows weight loss benefits for both menopause and type 2 diabetes
Wednesday, October 14 – Orforglipron shows weight loss benefits for both menopause and type 2 diabetes

Bootleg Retatrutide Deaths? PMOS and Dementia; Weight-Loss Drug to Be Discontinued
Thursday, October 15 – (MedPage Today) — Two recent deaths tied to counterfeit versions of retatrutide, an investigational weight-loss medication, were reported to the FDA. (CBS News)
Meanwhile, ongoing lawsuits allege that GLP-1 receptor agonists can cause severe…

No Effect of GLP-1s on Anti-VEGF Injection Frequency for Diabetic Macular Edema
Wednesday, October 14 – (MedPage Today) — NEW ORLEANS — GLP-1 receptor agonists did not significantly affect anti-VEGF treatment frequency in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), a large retrospective cohort study showed.
Over 24 months of follow-up, “no sustained…

Verdiva cans mid-stage obesity trial of GLP-1 pill, citing ‘market evolution’
Wednesday, October 14 – Verdiva Bio, one of the best-funded private biotechs seeking to get into the lucrative obesity drug market, has terminated one of the Phase 2 trials of its lead asset, a spokesperson …

Triple-action drug retatrutide delivers major weight loss for people with diabetes, Phase III trial finds
Wednesday, October 14 – A recent Phase III clinical trial, TRIUMPH-2, evaluated the efficacy and safety of retatrutide, a triple receptor agonist and experimental once-weekly injection being developed to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. What sets it apart from drugs such as semaglutide (Wegovy), which targets one hormone, and tirzepatide (Zepbound), which targets two, is its ability to activate three hormone receptors at once.