black box warning semaglutide FDA warns about safety of 'off-brand' versions of Ozempic, Wegovy CNBC investigates the black market

Trend status: Emerging/Growing

Novo Nordisk the company behind Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus reported $31.1 billion in revenue from the medications in 2024, up from $11.9 billion in 2022

A key part of this will be the SURMOUNT-Real UK study, which will look at the effects of tirzepatide in a primary care setting on weight loss, prevention of obesity-related conditions, health-related quality of life, and changes in employment status and sick day absences, compared with usual care over 5 years

A network meta-analysis comparing various GLP-1 receptor agonists (23 RCTs, N=11,545) demonstrated the superior efficacy of newer agents like semaglutide (2.4 mg) for weight loss compared to older options such as liraglutide (3.0 mg), although all GLP-1 RAs outperformed placebo

During physical activity, you may lose as much as 0.5 to two liters of sweat per hour

Originally developed as a treatment for diabetes, uptake has been staggering since the drugs were approved for weight loss, reflecting GLP-1s efficacy and growing acceptance