Eli Lilly has long been gearing up for the launch of orforglipron, announcing as early as February 2024 that it was ramping up manufacturing investments for the weight-loss pill.

Public Citizen contends that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s obesity drugs are straining budgets so much that generics should be authorized.

(MedPage Today) — Risk for a rare, potentially blinding eye condition was low, but it was significantly higher in diabetes patients who started semaglutide (Ozempic) versus SGLT2 inhibitors, an observational study of U.S. veterans showed.
Among…

Novo Nordisk is ramping up its footprint in Ireland with a planned expansion of its Athlone factory to make its Wegovy pill, the company confirmed to Endpoints News.

The Athlone site will supply the pill …

Viking Therapeutics Inc. said after-market hours Feb. 11 that it plans to advance its oral dual GLP-1/GIP receptor, VK-2735, into a phase III trial for obesity in the third quarter of 2026. VK-2735 is a novel dual glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GLP-1/GIP) receptor agonist.

A few weeks back, I moderated a dinner conversation among company heads of HR and benefits here in Denver organized by primary care operator Marathon Health.

These employee benefit leaders are a group I hear …

Drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy are intended for people who are overweight. Some patients are using them after bariatric surgery to keep pounds from creeping back. Others may just want to lose a few pounds.

The oral version of Wegovy has made GLP-1 medicines more accessible and acceptable to many patients who had steered clear of injectable versions, healthcare analytics firm Truveta suggests.

(MedPage Today) — Women with nonmalignant uterine disease and a history of GLP-1 agonist and progestin treatment had a significantly lower risk of endometrial cancer (EC) compared with progestins alone, a retrospective study showed.
Based on…

Ascletis Pharma Inc. raised HK$843.53 million (US107.93 million) in a placement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to advance its lead program, ASC-30, a small-molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that can be dosed once monthly subcutaneously and once daily orally for treating obesity.

Three major reviews commissioned by the World Health Organization find that GLP-1 drugs including tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound), semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy), and liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda) can lead to substantial weight loss in people with obesity. But while the results are impressive, researchers caution that most trials were funded by drugmakers, long term safety data are still limited, and side effects such as nausea are common.

TUESDAY, Feb. 10, 2026 — Lowering the annual cost of semaglutide by 18 percent (from $8,604 to $7,055) or making the current cash price available to all patients would make semaglutide cost-effective, according to a study published online Feb. 4…

Hims & Hers has withdrawn its low cost compounded weight loss pill after pressure from top U.S. health officials and a major lawsuit. Image courtesy of Novo Nordisk

Hims & Hers recently announced a $49 compounded semaglutide pill, offering a low cost alternative to the new Wegovy pill.

However, the compounded version was withdrawn from the market after pressure from the HHS and FDA.

(MedPage Today) — The FDA approved three doses — 1.5 mg, 4 mg, and 9 mg — of a new oral semaglutide formulation for diabetes (Ozempic tablets), Novo Nordisk announced.
An ad for Novo Nordisk’s weight loss pill version of semaglutide (Wegovy…

Novo Nordisk A/S’ television ad introducing the tablet form of its weight-loss drug, Wegovy (semaglutide), to American consumers didn’t pass regulatory muster.

With the use of GLP-1 medications on the rise, cardiologists are seeing benefits to heart health, and it might not all be related to weight loss alone. GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide, are a class of drugs that act on receptors throughout the body, influencing insulin sensitivity, appetite regulation, inflammation and metabolic health. These therapies traditionally were used to treat diabetes; however, weight loss is a well-recognized side effect, and they are now used for weight loss goals.

Kailera will launch a global Phase 2 study of ribupatide this year, while Hengrui will push the asset into Phase 3 in China.

MONDAY, Feb. 9, 2026 — Hims & Hers says it will stop selling a low-cost copy of a new weight-loss pill made by Novo Nordisk, after federal officials raised concerns that the product may violate drug laws.
The online health company…

Novo Nordisk has sued Hims for allegedly violating patents protecting semaglutide, seeking potentially “hundreds of millions” in damages, John Kuckelman, the pharma’s general counsel, said. The wellness platform pulled its version of the drug just days after launching it.

Novo Nordisk on Monday said it is suing telehealth company Hims & Hers for allegedly infringing its patent on the weight loss medication semaglutide — not just for the pill version but also for the injectable …

Novo Nordisk sues Hims & Hers for infringing on a key Wegovy patent.

GLP-1 drugs, which have helped some people curb drug and alcohol use, may unlock a pathway to moderation.