Since they debuted, injectable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic have been in high demand. In addition to treating diabetes and obesity, these medications have cardiovascular benefits, and there’s evidence they may curb addiction and possibly even protect against some types of cancer, which has only further broadened their appeal. But for people who hate needles, these medications hold a glaring, obvious drawback: They require taking a weekly shot.
Now, though, on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, ads for oral knock-off versions of GLP-1 drugs are proliferating. After the brand-name GLP-1 drugs went into shortage in 2022, a booming industry of “compounding” pharmacies and telehealth clinics arose to offer copies of the