Category: Obesity
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STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic shots could be made for as little as $3 a month, analysis finds
STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic shots could be made for as little as $3 a month, analysis finds Generic versions of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster Wegovy and Ozempic medications could be mass produced for about $3 per person per month, a cost that could greatly widen access in low- and middle-income countries, according to a…
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STAT+: Will Novo Nordisk’s slashing of obesity drug prices save patients’ money? It depends
STAT+: Will Novo Nordisk’s slashing of obesity drug prices save patients’ money? It depends Novo Nordisk made headlines Tuesday by announcing it would slash the list prices of its GLP-1 drugs and arguing that doing so would expand access. For insured patients who have to pay coinsurance — a certain percentage of the list price…
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STAT+: Trump administration is urged to use a federal law to authorize generic versions of GLP-1 drugs
STAT+: Trump administration is urged to use a federal law to authorize generic versions of GLP-1 drugs Public Citizen petitioned the Trump administration to use a federal law to authorize generic competitors for GLP-1 drugs for treating obesity and diabetes, arguing that prices are “unjustifiably high” for too many Americans. In arguing its case, the…
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We tested the government’s official new AI nutrition tool: Grok
We tested the government’s official new AI nutrition tool: Grok How trustworthy is the new U.S. food pyramid? It’s a mixed bag, according to the government website devoted to that pyramid. Kyle Diamantas, head of the Human Foods Program at the Food and Drug Administration, alerted the public this week to a generative artificial intelligence…
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STAT+: Hims & Hers will stop selling compounded version of Novo’s obesity pill
STAT+: Hims & Hers will stop selling compounded version of Novo’s obesity pill Hims & Hers said Saturday it will stop selling what it claims to be a cheaper, compounded version of Novo Nordisk’s obesity pill on its telehealth platform, after health officials called for an investigation of the company for potentially violating federal law.…
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STAT+: HHS asks Justice Department to probe Hims & Hers over its cheaper compounded version of Wegovy
STAT+: HHS asks Justice Department to probe Hims & Hers over its cheaper compounded version of Wegovy The Department of Health and Human Services asked the Department of Justice to investigate Hims & Hers for potentially violating federal law over its plan to make a compounded version of a low-cost weight loss pill widely available…
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STAT+: Novo Nordisk accuses Hims & Hers of ‘illegal mass compounding’ over a cheaper version of Wegovy pill
STAT+: Novo Nordisk accuses Hims & Hers of ‘illegal mass compounding’ over a cheaper version of Wegovy pill In an unexpected move, Hims & Hers is making available a cheaper, compounded version of the Wegovy weight loss pill sold by Novo Nordisk, prompting the drugmaker to accuse the telehealth platform of “illegal mass compounding.” In…
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STAT+: Novo Nordisk sees lower sales, profits as Wegovy faces growing competition
STAT+: Novo Nordisk sees lower sales, profits as Wegovy faces growing competition Novo Nordisk on Tuesday said it expects sales and profits to decline this year, as the maker of Wegovy faces growing competition in the obesity market. The Danish pharma giant said it expects sales to decrease in the range of 5% to 13%…
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Bariatric surgery beats GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes across income levels, study says
Bariatric surgery beats GLP-1s for type 2 diabetes across income levels, study says When endocrinologist Mary Elizabeth Patti looks at a patient with type 2 diabetes who could benefit from weight loss, she sees more than body mass index and blood glucose levels. She also recognizes the challenges of social vulnerability, understanding how low income,…
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STAT+: Behind new dietary guidelines: Industry-funded studies, opaque science, crushing deadline pressure
STAT+: Behind new dietary guidelines: Industry-funded studies, opaque science, crushing deadline pressure WASHINGTON — In early May, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had good news for the President: updated dietary guidelines, which were due at the end of 2025, would be delivered ahead of schedule. “We are working very, very fast…
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Live from JPM 2026, a sit-down with Novo Nordisk’s CEO and VC Bob Nelsen
Live from JPM 2026, a sit-down with Novo Nordisk’s CEO and VC Bob Nelsen How did an office clerk become CEO of a major pharmaceutical company? What’s “Project Prometheus”? And what’s next in drug R&D? Allison, Adam, and Elaine are asking those questions live from the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. Read the…
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JPM to bring more deals and happy CEOs
JPM to bring more deals and happy CEOs What news happened over the holidays? Why will pharma CEOs be greeted warmly in San Francisco next week? And who will buy Revolution Medicines? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s weekly biotech podcast. We bring on former co-host…
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How saturated fats lost, and won, on new food pyramid
How saturated fats lost, and won, on new food pyramid For months, nutrition experts have been anxiously waiting to see whether the new U.S. dietary guidelines would follow through on health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledge to end the war on saturated fat. The guidelines’ longstanding recommendation to cap saturated fat consumption at 10%…
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Dietary guidelines declare war on processed foods and sugar, encourage more protein and dairy
Dietary guidelines declare war on processed foods and sugar, encourage more protein and dairy The Trump administration on Wednesday issued a long-promised revamp of national dietary guidelines, urging Americans to eat more protein and less added sugar and, for the first time, discouraging consumption of highly processed foods. The guidelines, despite widespread expectations, do not…
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The top medical advances of 2025
The top medical advances of 2025 It has been a tough year for medicine. The U.S. research enterprise has been scrambled by a series of political decisions with long-reaching consequences. But make no mistake: Science didn’t stop, and medicine has had its share of major advances. As I have written for years, this is biology’s…
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STAT+: With the Wegovy pill, Novo Nordisk undercuts Eli Lilly in direct-to-consumer market
STAT+: With the Wegovy pill, Novo Nordisk undercuts Eli Lilly in direct-to-consumer market Novo Nordisk plans to sell its newly approved obesity pill directly to patients at a lower price than a competing medicine from Eli Lilly, as the Danish drugmaker tries to seize market share among consumers paying cash for blockbuster GLP-1 therapies. Novo…
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In 2026, Kennedy’s MAHA vision gets put to the test. Here are 3 issues to watch
In 2026, Kennedy’s MAHA vision gets put to the test. Here are 3 issues to watch In many ways, it’s been a banner year for chronic disease. America’s enduring ailments became a central theme of the Trump administration, with health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wielding his influence over the president. Trump created a commission…
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FDA approves pill version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, possibly widening access
FDA approves pill version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, possibly widening access The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the oral version of Novo Nordisk’s injectable weight loss drug Wegovy, making it the first GLP-1 pill to be cleared by regulators for obesity and possibly allowing many more Americans to get access to a highly…
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Biotech’s year in review
Biotech’s year in review Is the biotech industry truly out of its slump? Why are employers dropping coverage of weight loss drugs? And what will the hosts bake for the holidays? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” the last episode of the year. We bring on Bruce…
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STAT+: Meta is urged by state attorneys general to boost enforcement of weight loss drug advertising
STAT+: Meta is urged by state attorneys general to boost enforcement of weight loss drug advertising More than three dozen state attorneys general are urging Meta to better enforce its policies to thwart a “surge of misleading” pharmaceutical and wellness ads for weight loss drugs on Instagram and Facebook. And the state officials also want…
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Free pass or failing grade for saturated fats? Review sets off scientific and political debate
Free pass or failing grade for saturated fats? Review sets off scientific and political debate Saturated fats are having a moment, one that has ensnared researchers in a political debate they never intended to enter. A new systematic review of 17 randomized clinical trials found that reducing intake of saturated fats reduced the chance of serious cardiovascular…
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The future of American science and a dispatch from ASH
The future of American science and a dispatch from ASH How did Terns Pharmaceuticals and its “hodgepodge” pipeline grab attention at the American Society of Hematology conference? Is Eli Lilly’s new drug making people lose too much weight? And what, exactly, is the Trump administration’s plan for reforming the National Institutes of Health? We discuss…
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STAT+: Biosecure Act advances, but extra ACA subsidies are still up in the air
STAT+: Biosecure Act advances, but extra ACA subsidies are still up in the air You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The only nice thing about airport downtime is that I…
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Opinion: Public health should embrace GLP-1 drugs without abandoning obesity prevention
Opinion: Public health should embrace GLP-1 drugs without abandoning obesity prevention Following the White House’s recent announcement of price reductions and expanded coverage for GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, many patients searching for obesity treatments are about to gain access to highly effective options. The implications for U.S. public health are vast. Read the…
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Merck’s heart disease win and the FDA’s new drug regulator
Merck’s heart disease win and the FDA’s new drug regulator What does Rick Pazdur’s new role mean for the Food and Drug Administration? Has Merck solved the PCSK9 access issue? And how much credit can the president take for lowering GLP-1 drug prices? Dean Li, the head of R&D at Merck, joins us to discuss…
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STAT+: The $10 billion question: Will Pfizer hit it big with Metsera, or have regrets?
STAT+: The $10 billion question: Will Pfizer hit it big with Metsera, or have regrets? At a price of up to $10 billion, Pfizer has claimed victory in its bidding war against Novo Nordisk to acquire Metsera and its investigational obesity treatments. But in doing so, the company has also taken on significant risks. Will…
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STAT+: Seven burning questions about Trump’s big deal for cheaper weight loss drugs
STAT+: Seven burning questions about Trump’s big deal for cheaper weight loss drugs WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s deal to expand access to and lower the cost of weight loss drugs has left industry leaders, public health experts, and patients with a host of open questions. The administration’s agreements with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk…
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STAT+: Kennedy, a longtime pharma critic, embraces Trump deal to expand access to obesity drugs
STAT+: Kennedy, a longtime pharma critic, embraces Trump deal to expand access to obesity drugs WASHINGTON — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was uncharacteristically chummy with pharma executives at the White House on Thursday as he cheered the Trump administration’s plan for lowering obesity medication prices. Kennedy has railed against drugmakers in the past, and…
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Melodrama at the FDA and the Pfizer-Novo bidding war
Melodrama at the FDA and the Pfizer-Novo bidding war On this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD”: “Mean Girls” melodrama at the top of the FDA and the latest on the Pfizer-Novo Nordisk bidding war for Metsera. On a jam-packed show, your co-hosts, minus the vacationing Allison DeAngelis, chat with STAT’s D.C. correspondent Lizzy Lawrence…
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STAT+: Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly
STAT+: Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is nearing deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to lower the prices of their weight loss drugs and expand access to them, people familiar with the talks told STAT. The companies have been close to…
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STAT+: Kailera Therapeutics, an obesity drug startup, raises $600 million
STAT+: Kailera Therapeutics, an obesity drug startup, raises $600 million Investors announced one of the biggest private financing rounds of the year for a biotech company Tuesday, pouring $600 million into obesity startup Kailera Therapeutics. Bain Capital’s private equity group led the financing, which also included Royalty Pharma, the sovereign wealth fund in Qatar, and the…
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STAT+: Novo Nordisk links to telehealth providers for patients seeking Wegovy
STAT+: Novo Nordisk links to telehealth providers for patients seeking Wegovy Novo Nordisk has taken the next step in selling its drugs directly to patients by pointing them to telehealth providers that can write prescriptions for its popular obesity medication Wegovy. The company now links to select virtual providers on the NovoCare direct-to-patient pharmacy website…
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Viking’s obesity flop, ‘pharma to table’ drug sales
Viking’s obesity flop, ‘pharma to table’ drug sales On this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD”: vikings. No, not the seafaring Norse people of the 10th century, or the Minnesota football team. The gang will discuss obesity drug developer Viking Therapeutics and the investor cult that embraces it, both of which performed a painful belly…
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Closing a zombie biotech, and Lilly’s disappointing obesity readout
Closing a zombie biotech, and Lilly’s disappointing obesity readout How does a biotech company decide to shut itself down? Why does Eli Lilly have so much riding on its oral obesity candidate? And what’s the outlook for Vertex’s pain franchise? We discuss that and more on this on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,”…
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Vaccine policy frays, CDC nominee in the hot seat, & obesity drug side effects
Vaccine policy frays, CDC nominee in the hot seat, & obesity drug side effects What does the fracturing of vaccine advice and policy mean for the U.S. health care ecosystem? Will the potential head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stand up to her boss? And can Amgen overcome its obesity drug’s side…
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STAT+: Amgen’s obesity drug led to high discontinuation rates in mid-stage trial, as company plans to adjust dosing
STAT+: Amgen’s obesity drug led to high discontinuation rates in mid-stage trial, as company plans to adjust dosing CHICAGO — Amgen’s monthly obesity candidate led to substantial weight loss but a high rate of side effects and discontinuations in a mid-stage trial, results that support the company’s decision to use a slower dosing schedule to…
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STAT+: Full data on Novo Nordisk’s new amylin drug raise dosing questions
STAT+: Full data on Novo Nordisk’s new amylin drug raise dosing questions CHICAGO — Novo Nordisk’s next-generation obesity injection targeting the amylin hormone showed substantial weight loss in an early study, but similar efficacy across different doses and high rates of side effects raise questions about which dose Novo will pursue going forward. In the…
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STAT+: More universities open to private equity deals, and emerging companies turn to new targets
STAT+: More universities open to private equity deals, and emerging companies turn to new targets This is the online version of our BIO 2025 newsletter. Get more BIO updates directly to your inbox by signing up here, and sign up for our morning biotech news roundup newsletter here. Hello all, I have a fresh double…
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STAT+: As Omada goes public, executives reflect on why profits are elusive in digital health
STAT+: As Omada goes public, executives reflect on why profits are elusive in digital health Fourteen years after launching to help make a dent in the United States’ swelling chronic disease problem, Omada Health went public on Friday, raising $150 million at just over a $1 billion valuation. Before going public, Omada raised $450 million…
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An AI experiment at the FDA & Novo trailing in the obesity drug race
An AI experiment at the FDA & Novo trailing in the obesity drug race On this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD”: The Food and Drug Administration’s AI adventure, a deep look inside Novo Nordisk’s obesity stumble, and finally, another big M&A deal in biotech. The FDA has rolled out an internal AI tool called…
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GLP-1 drugs may be linked to elevated risk of serious eye disease, study finds
GLP-1 drugs may be linked to elevated risk of serious eye disease, study finds People with diabetes who were taking GLP-1 drugs had a low but elevated risk of an age-related eye disease that can sometimes lead to blindness, a new observational study concludes, adding to a short list of concerns about eye health in…
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STAT+: Compounders lose legal battle with FDA over removal of Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug from a shortage list
STAT+: Compounders lose legal battle with FDA over removal of Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug from a shortage list A federal judge has sided with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over a decision last year to remove two Eli Lilly drugs — the Zepbound weight loss medicine and the Mounjaro diabetes treatment — from…
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STAT+: Trump administration declines to expand Medicare coverage for obesity drugs
STAT+: Trump administration declines to expand Medicare coverage for obesity drugs The Trump administration has chosen not to finalize a rule proposed by the Biden administration that would have allowed Medicare to cover blockbuster weight loss drugs. The rule would have brought in tens of billions of dollars in new sales for drugs like Novo…