NPR Series: The Wild West For Obesity Drugs https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=g-s1-119838 This series details the unprecedented parallel market for cheaper versions of expensive obesity drugs. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Sat, 02 May 2026 23:50:41 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: The Wild West For Obesity Drugs https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-119838/the-wild-west-for-obesity-drugs Patients turn to 'gray market' for cheaper obesity drugs, but it's risky Patients who want a deeper discount on obesity meds than compounding pharmacies can offer are turning to the gray market, where they buy the raw active ingredient from China and prepare it themselves. Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:05:51 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2025/10/07/nx-s1-5528695/patients-turn-to-gray-market-for-cheaper-obesity-drugs-but-its-risky https://www.npr.org/2025/10/07/nx-s1-5528695/patients-turn-to-gray-market-for-cheaper-obesity-drugs-but-its-risky Patients who want a deeper discount on obesity meds than compounding pharmacies can offer are turning to the gray market, where they buy the raw active ingredient from China and prepare it themselves.

]]> Sydney Lupkin A new chapter for online sales of obesity drug alternatives tests legal limits While some compounding pharmacies have stopped making alternatives to Wegovy and Zepbound since shortages were declared over, others are continuing and pushing regulatory boundaries.  Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:31:58 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5432784/compounded-wegovy-zepbound-telehealth-obesity https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5432784/compounded-wegovy-zepbound-telehealth-obesity

While some compounding pharmacies have stopped making alternatives to Wegovy and Zepbound since shortages were declared over, others are continuing and pushing regulatory boundaries. 

(Image credit: JDawnInk/Digital Vision Vectors)

]]> Sydney Lupkin Patients scramble as cheaper obesity drug alternatives disappear Compounding pharmacies have been allowed to essentially make a cheaper version of Eli Lilly's Zepbound, but they have to stop Wednesday. That has left many patients wondering what to do next. Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:02:05 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/19/nx-s1-5333230/zepbound-tirzepatide-compounding-fda https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/19/nx-s1-5333230/zepbound-tirzepatide-compounding-fda

Compounding pharmacies have been allowed to essentially make a cheaper version of Eli Lilly's Zepbound, but they have to stop Wednesday. That has left many patients wondering what to do next.

(Image credit: Guido Mieth)

]]> Sydney Lupkin Thinking of buying obesity drugs online? Read this first A telehealth company partnered with a pharmacy that lacked a required license, raising doubts about the safety and efficacy of the weight-loss medicines it mailed to patients. Mon, 17 Feb 2025 12:15:04 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/17/nx-s1-5299288/semaglutide-wegovy-zepbound-compounding-pharmacy https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/17/nx-s1-5299288/semaglutide-wegovy-zepbound-compounding-pharmacy

A telehealth company partnered with a pharmacy that lacked a required license, raising doubts about the safety and efficacy of the weight-loss medicines it mailed to patients.

]]> Sydney Lupkin