Eli Lilly's pill version of orforglipron (Foundayo) beat Novo Nordisk's semaglutide pill at lowering blood sugar and weight loss in three large diabetes trials. Foundayo showed bigger drops in A1C levels and weight compared to the competing drug.

• •Orforglipron (Foundayo) showed superior A1C control vs semaglutide pill in three pivotal type 2 diabetes trials
• •Foundayo also showed greater weight loss than the competing semaglutide pill
• •Data came from three separate pivotal trials per Eli Lilly press release

Eli Lilly's retatrutide, a triple-action weight-loss drug, helped people lose an average of 70 pounds over 80 weeks in a major trial. The drug also reduced joint pain and improved sleep problems in people with obesity and related conditions.

• •Retatrutide is described as a triple agonist targeting weight and obesity complications
• •Average weight loss was ~70 pounds over 80 weeks in the trial
• •Trial covered A1C, knee osteoarthritis pain, and obstructive sleep apnea outcomes

Eli Lilly will present new study results on Foundayo (an oral weight-loss and diabetes drug), Mounjaro, and retatrutide at a major diabetes conference. The Foundayo data showed it worked better than two competing pills for type 2 diabetes.

• •Lilly to present data on Foundayo, Mounjaro, and retatrutide at ADA's 86th Scientific Sessions
• •Foundayo data showed it worked better than two competing pills for type 2 diabetes

Eli Lilly said CVS Caremark will start covering its weight-loss drugs Foundayo and Zepbound for millions of Americans starting in June and October. Eligible patients may pay only $25 per month for their medicine.

• •CVS Caremark will cover Foundayo and Zepbound starting in June and October
• •Eligible patients may pay $25 per month for their medicine

Eli Lilly released results from two late-stage trials showing that people who switched from higher-dose Wegovy or Zepbound to lower doses of Lilly's Foundayo pill or lower-dose Zepbound kept nearly all their weight loss over one year. The trials suggest the lower doses work well enough to maintain results when people switch from stronger versions.

• •Two late-stage trials tested switching from higher-dose incretin therapy to lower doses
• •Patients switched to Foundayo pill or lower-dose Zepbound maintained weight loss over one year
• •Results came from Eli Lilly press releases, not yet peer-reviewed

• •Article covers a new Medicare option for weight-loss drugs aimed at older Americans

Canada has approved generic versions of semaglutide (the drug in Ozempic). This could change how Canadian health plans cover the weight-loss drug, potentially shifting costs and access.

• •Canada approved generic versions of semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic
• •Canadian benefit plans may change how they cover the weight-loss drug

Eli Lilly's new obesity drug retatrutide is so effective that people are already making illegal copies of it. The drug hasn't even been fully approved yet, but compounding pharmacies are producing their own versions.

• •Lilly's obesity drug retatrutide is being copied before full approval
• •Compounding pharmacies are making their own versions of the drug

Amazon will sell semaglutide (Ozempic, a weight-loss drug) at U.S. kiosks. The FDA is reviewing a rejected drug from Atara and Pierre Fabre, though that drug is not a peptide.

• •Amazon plans to stock Ozempic at US kiosks
• •FDA will reconsider an Atara and Pierre Fabre drug after a surprise rejection

Generic versions of semaglutide (Ozempic) are coming to Canada, marking the first time cheaper copies of this weight-loss drug will be available. Novo Nordisk faces a test of how it competes when generics hit the market.

• •Generic semaglutide is coming to Canada
• •First time cheaper Ozempic copies will be sold
• •Novo Nordisk faces its first generic test for the drug

• •Lilly and Regeneron are working together on an obesity combo trial
• •A key tirzepatide trial has reached completion

Starting July 2026, Medicare will cover Wegovy (semaglutide) for eligible patients with just a $50 monthly copay. This is a major expansion that makes the weight-loss drug affordable for millions of older Americans.

• •CMS will cover Wegovy for eligible Medicare patients starting July 2026
• •Eligible patients will pay a $50 monthly copay
• •Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's semaglutide weight-loss drug

Starting in July, Medicare members can buy GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (like semaglutide and tirzepatide) for $50 per month instead of paying full price. This price cap applies to older adults and people with disabilities who use Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

• •Medicare members can get GLP-1 drugs for $50 per month starting in July
• •Price cap applies to semaglutide and tirzepatide
• •Covers older adults and people with disabilities on Medicare Part D

• •Ozempic may reach Ukrainian pharmacies by end of May
• •Wegovy launch in Ukraine expected next year

Medicare will cover Wegovy (semaglutide), a weight-loss drug, for older adults starting July 1, 2026, through a new program called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. This expands who can afford the drug under government health insurance.

• •Medicare will cover Wegovy for obesity starting July 1, 2026
• •Coverage comes through a new program called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
• •Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's semaglutide weight-loss drug

• •Novo Nordisk faces competition from compounders in Canada

• •Novo Nordisk CEO says company is actively looking for deals
• •Goal is to expand the drug pipeline

Novo Nordisk said that cheap copies of Ozempic being made in China might be delayed. The company did not give details about what caused the delay or when copies might still arrive.

• •Novo Nordisk said cheap copies of Ozempic in China may be delayed
• •No details given on cause of delay or revised timing

• •Novo Nordisk's CEO said he is 'quite confident' about the pill market.
• •Eli Lilly has entered the tablet (oral) weight-loss drug market.
• •Comments come as both firms compete in oral GLP-1 drugs.

The FDA is proposing to keep semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide off the list of drugs that pharmacies can buy in bulk to make cheaper copies. This change would prevent pharmacies from compounding (making) their own versions of these popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs.

• •FDA proposes to keep semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide off the 503B bulks list
• •The move would block pharmacies from making their own versions of these drugs
• •Affects popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs

Novo Nordisk expects China to delay approval of generic versions of Ozempic (semaglutide) until next year. The delay gives the company more time to sell the brand-name drug before cheaper copies enter the market.

• •Novo Nordisk expects China to delay approval of generic semaglutide until next year
• •Delay extends Novo's brand-name Ozempic sales window in China