Online clinics in the United States are shifting to offering liraglutide, an older GLP-1 medication, for weight loss after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ended provisions that allowed the sale of compounded versions of newer drugs such as Ozempic (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide). The FDA set a cut-off date of May 22 for compounded semaglutide, and companies like Olympia Pharmaceuticals are stopping its production. Liraglutide, originally sold under the brand names Victoza and Saxenda, has been available in generic form since 2023 and is now being promoted as a substitute, despite being less effective, requiring daily injections, and having been in shortage since April 2023. Compounded liraglutide remains permitted due to this shortage.
Telehealth companies, including Hims, which added generic liraglutide to its lineup last month, and compounding pharmacies are ramping up production and marketing of liraglutide. Olympia Pharmaceuticals has signed large contracts for liraglutide and expects demand to rise. Some online clinics are marketing liraglutide as an easy transition for patients switching from other GLP-1 medications.
Medical experts caution that liraglutide is generally less effective than semaglutide and tirzepatide, produces more side effects, and may not provide actual cost savings because it requires daily injections and possibly higher doses. According to Truveta Research, 11% of patients switched GLP-1 medications between 2018 and 2023, often due to side effects.
Recent studies, including one presented at the European Obesity Congress in Malaga and involving 6,370 adults in 11 studies, indicate that patients who discontinue GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic and Mounjaro, are likely to regain lost weight within two years unless they adopt long-term lifestyle changes.
Meanwhile, new oral GLP-1 drugs such as orforglipron are being developed to address cost and logistical barriers in lower-income countries, and experimental treatments like SYNT-101 aim to preserve muscle mass while promoting weight loss. Research also suggests that modulating gut microbiota could offer new approaches for regulating blood sugar and appetite.
Are you taking diet pills? Currently, there are two weight loss drugs on the market. One is semaglutide (semaglutide) with the trade name Wegovy and tirzepatide (tirzepatide) with the trade name Mounjaro. What are the side effects of these diet pills? What are some things to keep in mind?
More news:
Tirzepatide and semaglutide, the ingredients in popular weight loss drugs, can both cause side effects—but which one is easier to tolerate? Experts explain why the answer isn't so simple.
