Weight-loss drug boom sparks battle over pharmacy copycats
AXIOS September 10, 2024
A fight is brewing between drug giants and pharmacy compounders that have seized on the consumer demand for blockbuster obesity drugs.
Why it matters: The clash is testing the boundaries of Food and Drug Administration policy that allows pharmacies to make versions of drugs — including Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy — that are otherwise protected by patents when there are shortages.
The big picture: Both legitimate and illegitimate companies have raced to fill the gaps in GLP-1 obesity drug availability by making copies of their active ingredients — semaglutide and tirzepatide — at a much lower price than the branded drugs.
- Compounders say they’re improving access for people who have been prescribed GLP-1s for diabetes...