KEY DETAILS
As reported yesterday, Novo Nordisk shed about $30 billion in value after its heart drug ziltivekimab, which is not a GLP-1, missed its goal in a trial.
As reported yesterday, the VA is testing semaglutide's effect on drinking in over 600 veterans across 18 centers.
Buying unapproved gray market weight-loss peptides carries serious health risks.
Walmart, Costco, and Amazon stand to profit from direct-to-consumer GLP-1 prescriptions.
Doctors and patients say President Trump's habit of calling GLP-1s 'fat drugs' adds to stigma around obesity, and patients describe the medicines as life-changing.
Novo Nordisk had a rough week. As we reported yesterday, a trial of its experimental heart drug ziltivekimab, which is not a GLP-1, missed its goal and wiped about $30 billion off the company's market value, and analysts were quick to criticize the outcome. The news lands at a moment when GLP-1 drugs are under scrutiny from several directions, from new government-backed research to warnings about unsafe alternatives sold online. For anyone following this category, it is a reminder that the business side of these medications can shift quickly, even as patient demand keeps growing.
The $30 billion loss followed the Phase 3 ZEUS trial of ziltivekimab, an experimental heart drug from the Ozempic maker that did not reduce major heart events, and analysts did not hold back their criticism of the result. A setback like this can shake investor confidence even when a company's approved products continue to sell well. For patients, the trial failure does not change access to current medications, but it does signal that Novo Nordisk's pipeline for future treatments faces real hurdles. Investors will likely watch the company's next moves closely to see how it responds.
In a separate development first reported yesterday, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a clinical trial to test whether semaglutide can help reduce drinking among veterans. The trial will involve more than 600 veterans across 18 medical centers nationwide, making it one of the larger studies to examine GLP-1 drugs outside of weight loss and diabetes. The trial enrolls veterans aged 18 to 80 with moderate or severe alcohol use disorder. Diabetes is not required. Anyone connected to the VA system may want to ask their provider whether a local center is participating.
Fitness expert Jillian Michaels has warned against buying so-called gray market weight-loss peptides online, saying these unapproved products carry severe health risks. Unlike prescription GLP-1 drugs that go through regulatory review, gray market versions are not verified for safety, dosage accuracy, or purity. That gap matters because these substances are often marketed as cheaper or easier alternatives to a doctor's prescription. If cost or access is the reason someone considers this route, it may be worth discussing options with a healthcare provider instead, since the health risks described are serious.
As more employers end coverage for GLP-1 medications, Americans are increasingly being pushed toward direct-to-consumer prescription programs, and major retailers are positioned to benefit. Walmart, Costco, and Amazon all stand to gain from this shift, since these companies operate the pharmacy infrastructure that direct prescription programs rely on. This trend reflects a broader change in how patients pay for and access these drugs, moving away from employer-sponsored insurance and toward retail-based models. Patients weighing this option should compare pricing and support services across providers, since terms can vary.
President Trump has taken to calling GLP-1s 'fat drugs' and 'fat shots,' and doctors and patients say that wording adds to the stigma around obesity. Patients described the medicines as life-changing. That gap between political commentary and clinical experience suggests the debate is unlikely to change how doctors currently prescribe these drugs. For patients already on a GLP-1 medication, the political conversation should not be a reason to second-guess a treatment plan without first talking to a doctor.
Taken together, this week's news shows a category that is expanding in new directions, from alcohol research to retail pharmacy competition, even as one company works through a costly setback. Patients navigating their own treatment decisions should focus on what their doctor recommends and avoid unapproved products sold outside regulated channels, given the risks involved. If access or cost is a concern, direct-to-consumer programs through major retailers may be worth exploring, but it is reasonable to compare options first. As always, decisions about starting, stopping, or changing a GLP-1 medication should be made with a healthcare provider who knows your full medical history.
Sources
Veterans to Join Nationwide VA Alcohol Addiction Trial: Here’s Where — Newsweek
Jillian Michaels warns against 'gray market' weight-loss peptide risks — Fox News
Direct GLP-1 prescriptions are Walmart, Costco, Amazon weight-loss win — CNBC
1 prescriptions, Walmart, Costco, Amazon will be big weight — NewsBreak
Doctors And GLP-1 Users Respond To Trump's 'Fat Drugs' Comments — HuffPost
Novo Nordisk’s Market Value Sheds $30 Billion-Here’s Why Shares Are Down — Forbes
VA announces launch of GLP-1 treatment to help veterans struggling with alcohol — Baltimore News
VA announces launch of GLP-1 treatment to help veterans struggling with alcohol — WJLA
Ozempic is giving people ‘temporal hollowing.’ What is it? — USA TODAY