Global Scans · Diet Drugs · Weekly Summary

• [New] Roughly three-quarters of American adults are overweight or obese, employers could be faced with hundreds or even thousands of GLP-1 bills each month. The Atlantic
• [New] Recent developments include prioritizing NMRA-215 for obesity treatment, supported by promising preclinical results in animal models, with clinical trials expected to commence in early 2026. Simply Wall St
• [New] Eli Lilly is overtaking Novo Nordisk, with Zepbound projected to hit $18 billion in sales in 2026 versus Wegovy's $16.5 billion. STAT
• [New] GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs are projected to increase employer pharmacy spend by up to 25% in 2025. Sword Editorial Team
• [New] High-risk patients with heart failure had an over 40% lower risk of hospitalization or death after initiating weight loss drugs semaglutide or tirzepatide compared to placebo by proxy. Harvard Gazette
• [New] In Novo's real-world STEER study, Wegovy at 2.4 mg cut the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular-related death or death from any cause by 57% in patients without substantial treatment gaps compared to Lilly's Zepbound. Fierce Pharma
• [New] The semaglutide patent cliff in China represents a paradigm shift that will broaden access to life-changing GLP-1RA therapies while creating a new competitive landscape dominated by local players. Clinical Trials Arena
• [New] Patent Thicketing: Novo has filed 320 patent applications for semaglutide-based products, extending exclusivity through 2042. Ainvest
• [New] The FDA added a new indication for Wegovy in 2025 for reducing the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease who are also obese or overweight. pharmexec
• [New] GLP-1 drugs reshape benefit decisions: Estimates suggest that 20-50 million U.S. adults could be using GLP-1s within the next decade, with global use projected to reach 40 million by 2029. CHRO Association
• [New] Semaglutide significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among adults with overweight or obesity, even in the absence of diabetes. Forbes
• [New] The push for a standalone MDL follows research from Harvard and JAMA Ophthalmology indicating that GLP-1 drugs may increase the risk of NAION up to sevenfold. TorHoerman Law, LLC
• [New] Plaintiffs in the Ozempic MDL allege that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly under-disclosed the risk of prolonged gastric paralysis and NAION, while over-promoting aesthetic benefits. Lawyer Monthly
• [New] Under optimistic scenarios, new research from Swiss Re projects that GLP-1 medications could reduce all-cause mortality in the US by as much as 6.4% by 2045. ELSA - European Life Settlement Association
• [New] Wegovy, which unlike Ozempic has been FDA-approved for weight loss, could be used to reduce the risk of heart attacks and heart strokes in certain patients. Yahoo News
• [New] Both Ozempic and Victoza have an FDA boxed warning about a potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumours, including medullary thyroid carcinoma. Noom: Lose weight and keep it off.
• [New] Lilly plans to file for FDA approval by year-end 2025, positioning orforglipron as a potential game-changer in obesity treatment if approved. Peerlist
• [New] Nearly 18 million Americans are expected to be taking versions of GLP-1 drugs by 2029. Yahoo Finance
• Due to the widespread production of GLP-1 medications to treat weight loss, it is possible FDA may be making adjustments to its outlined risk-benefit framework for corresponding medical devices. JD Supra
• Wider use of drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound - which target appetite and slow digestion - could be starting to show up in reported data. Fortune
• With healthcare costs projected to increase 8.5% in 2026, GLP-1 demand continuing to rise, and the urgent need to improve workforce health and productivity, employers face mounting pressure to balance quality care and cost. Stock Titan
• There are approximately 3,000 Ozempic lawsuits filed in U.S. courts and possible damages could be well $2 billion. Slepkow Law

Last updated: 01 November 2025