With Weight-Loss Drugs Soaring For Adults, Drugmakers Consider Kids

Bloomberg: Ozempic Maker Is Testing Weight-Loss Drugs For Kids
Pharmaceutical companies are looking to get buzzy weight-loss shots approved for younger and younger patients. Eli Lilly & Co. is planning to test its diabetes drug Mounjaro for patients six and up with obesity, according to a person familiar with the trial who didn’t want to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Novo Nordisk A/S is also testing Saxenda — an older and less powerful version of its blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy — in kids as young as six. (Muller, 10/20)

More on the weight-loss frenzy —

Reuters: Demand For Weight-Loss Drugs Fuels Global Rise In Counterfeits 
Extraordinary demand for Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and other drugs used for weight-loss is fueling a global surge in counterfeit versions, according to Reuters interviews with law enforcement, anti-counterfeiting and public health officials. The U.S.-based Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), an industry-backed organization that counts drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly as members, said it is working with agencies, including Europol, Interpol and U.S. Homeland Security, as well as companies that help identify counterfeit products such as Israel’s BrandShield. (Wingrove and Fick, 10/20)

Bloomberg: Lilly Files Trade Complaint To Block Weight-Loss Drug Knock-Offs
Eli Lilly & Co. filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission against companies around the world that it alleges are importing, selling and distributing unapproved versions of Mounjaro, its blockbuster drug for diabetes that’s often used for weight loss. Lilly is targeting foreign importers and domestic distributors that are unlawfully marketing and selling products labeled as Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, according to the complaint filed Thursday. In some cases, the knock-offs have been found to contain impurities, the company alleged. (Muller, 10/19)

The Wall Street Journal: How Weight-Loss Drugs Are Rewriting The Playbook For Treating Obesity 
Medical organizations including the Obesity Society are writing new standards for treatment and addressing dilemmas. Should the drugs be prescribed to patients who haven’t tried losing weight before or who don’t have health problems? How much weight should you lose? What is the best way to maintain a lower weight? About half of the U.S. adult population technically qualifies for Wegovy, according to criteria in the drug’s label. That includes people with a body-mass index of 30 or more, or 27 and a health problem related to weight such as diabetes or high blood pressure. A BMI of 25 is the benchmark for normal weight. (McKay, 10/19)

Daily Mail Online: Will Ozempic Change Junk Food Forever? Nestle Developing 'Companion Products' For Weight Loss Drugs 
If you're trying to lose weight, you're unlikely to reach for a Kit-Kat. But the chocolate bar maker Nestle has started to work on new products for people who might be on weight-loss drugs to ensure it doesn't suffer if people start cutting calories and stop buying its candy. The Swiss food giant's CEO Mark Schneider said Nestle had not seen any impact from weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic on the company's sales so far, addressing the threat the medications pose to the junk food industry that has spooked investors in recent weeks. (Tilley, 10/19)

In other news about obesity and diabetes —

Roll Call: Military Obesity Rates Soar, Compounding Recruitment Challenges 
Obesity rates among active-duty servicemembers doubled in the past decade, and antiquated policies and incomplete data have complicated efforts to combat the trend, according to a new report from the American Security Project. Military obesity rates across the active duty jumped from 10.4 percent in 2012 to 21.6 percent in 2022, according to the study, the findings of which were released on Oct. 12. This mirrors a national trend that has shrunk the military’s recruitment pool and led to billions of dollars in associated health care costs. (Satter, 10/18)

NPR: More Than One Serving Of Red Meat A Day May Drive Up The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
People who routinely eat a lot of red meat may be increasing their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. Processed meats, like bacon and hot dogs, are linked to an even higher risk. Researchers tracked the eating habits of more than 200,000 people enrolled in long-term health studies for up to 36 years and found that those who regularly consumed a lot of red meat — more than a serving per day — had a significantly higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. (Aubrey, 10/19)