The health care industry has never encountered anything quite like Ozempic before. First approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, this drug and others like it—known as GLP-1 agonists—hit blockbuster status because of their remarkable success rate as weight-loss aids. (Although it’s become shorthand for this type of drug, Ozempic is actually only prescribed for weight-loss off-label.) With relentless demand, they’ve been in shortage in the United States since 2022. They’re the Taylor Swift Eras Tour of pharmaceuticals: Supply is limited, prices are sky-high, and even people who couldn’t care less are at least ambiently aware of what’s happening.
When drugs are officially in shortage, the US allows pharmacies to make
→ Continue reading at Wired - Science