[0xcde4c3db]

A couple more things to consider:

1) I'm having trouble finding a good citation, but I remember it being a minor scandal at some point that statistically, the real-world weight loss from semaglutide was found to be roughly half what it was in the trials, probably because the trial populations were unrepresentative (younger and fewer comorbidities than the real-world population, IIRC).

2) In the face of shortages of the standard branded Ozempic/Wegovy products, a lot of people are turning to compounding pharmacies. But according to Novo Nordisk, there is no legitimate supply chain of semaglutide for them to use, so these pharmacies are apparently selling people a semaglutide salt that is manufactured as a research chemical rather than a licensed drug [1]. The FDA has also warned of outright counterfeit Ozempic getting into the supply chain, complete with fake serial and lot numbers [2].

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/ozempic-wegovy-we...

[2] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-w...

[nradov]

Regardless of the exact effect magnitude, the GLP-1 agonists are very effective relative to other bariatric treatments across all patient populations. Tirzepatide appears to be even more effective than semaglutide in that regard. The concern is not so much over the magnitude of weight loss but over unfavorable changes in body composition and serious side effects such as gastroparesis.

https://peterattiamd.com/ama45/

Novo Nordisk appears to be spreading FUD to some extent. While there are scammers selling fake or adulterated semaglutide (same as with any popular prescription drug), legitimate compounding pharmacies are producing the real thing that is medically equivalent to the branded Ozempic/Wegovy products.

https://time.com/6301552/weight-loss-drugs-compounding-pharm...