Hospital pharmaceutical costs marginally decreased in 2023 because of the lessened need for COVID-19 drugs, but overall healthcare spending on drugs grew 13.5% — largely because of weight loss medications, a new study found. 

Nearly 4 million Medicare patients could be eligible to have Wegovy covered after the FDA approved it to reduce risk of heart attack and strokes, KFF reported April 24.

Debates are swirling about surgery disruptions, a baby boom phenomenon and additional uses for Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide-1 medicines. 

Since summer 2023, physicians have recommended patients taking GLP-1s, such as Ozempic or Mounjaro, to skip a dose before an elective surgery. Researchers from Stanford Medicine say this might be unnecessary and create adverse effects. 

Four more solutions of Zepbound and Mounjaro are in limited supply, and the shortages have prolonged, the FDA said April 17. 

While weight loss drugs have been touted as a game-changer for the nation's obesity epidemic, many Americans who would benefit most from the medications often lack access, experts told the Los Angeles Times in an April 15 report.

Researchers are expanding horizons for the diseases and disorders that GLP-1s such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy could treat.

Physicians and researchers say more data is needed on pregnancy outcomes in patients taking GLP-1s as a growing number of women turn to the class of weight loss medications in hopes of reducing their risk of pregnancy complications or increasing their chance of conceiving, Bloomberg reported April 18. 

After achieving promising outcomes for patients with sleep apnea, Eli Lilly said April 17 it plans to seek a wider FDA approval for Mounjaro and Zepbound. 

Available evidence does not suggest a link between the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic and Wegovy, and suicidal thoughts or actions, according to a review from drug regulators in Europe. 

Surprise pregnancies may be an unexpected side effect experienced by women who use Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications, The Washington Post reported April 5.

A small study has found lixisenatide, a GLP-1 made by Sanofi, may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease, according to findings published April 3 in The New England Journal of Medicine. 

After patients and clinicians reported weeklong back orders of Zepbound, Eli Lilly's new weight loss drug, the FDA confirmed shortages of two Zepbound solutions. 

Six months after Costco announced its entrance into the healthcare industry with $29 virtual primary care visits, the big box retailer is launching a specialized weight loss program exclusively for its members. 

Physicians estimate up to 15% of people who try GLP-1s — the popular class of anti-obesity medications that includes drugs that include Ozempic and Wegovy — lose less than 5% of their body weight, The Wall Street Journal reported April 1. 

By 2030, between 2.5 million and 3.8 million cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be avoided — a 10.7% reduction in overall prevalence — based on estimates of patients taking Wegoy. 

While the list price for a monthly supply of Ozempic in the U.S. nears $1,000, new research indicates it could be manufactured for less than $5 per month, sparking calls from lawmakers for Novo Nordisk to lower the price of its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drug. 

Among nearly 1 million patients who underwent upper or lower endoscopy procedures, those prescribed GLP-1s, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, were 33% more likely to experience aspiration pneumonia than other patients. 

Nonadherance seems to be a nonissue for patients taking new weight loss drugs, The New York Times reported March 24. 

Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to schedule a meeting with Novo Nordisk's CEO after researchers said its blockbuster Type 2 diabetes drug, Ozempic, could remain profitable if it was made for less than $5, Bloomberg reported March 28.