News
What's moving in GLP-1 right now.
Trial readouts, FDA decisions, supply updates — translated for humans.
FDA Moves to End Large-Scale GLP-1 Compounding
The FDA proposed removing semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulk list. The public comment window closes June 29, 2026.
Lilly Previews Retatrutide and Foundayo at ADA 2026
Lilly will present pivotal Phase 3 retatrutide data and new Foundayo results at the ADA's 86th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, June 5–8, 2026.
Retatrutide TRIUMPH-1: 28% Weight Loss at 80 Weeks
TRIUMPH-1 Phase 3: retatrutide 12 mg delivered an average 28.3% weight loss at 80 weeks, setting a new benchmark for drug-based obesity treatment.
FDA Proposes to End Large-Scale GLP-1 Compounding
The FDA proposed April 30 to exclude semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulks list, finding no clinical need. Comment period open through June 29.
Retatrutide TRIUMPH-1: 28% Weight Loss in Phase 3
Lilly's TRIUMPH-1 trial showed retatrutide 12 mg produced 28.3% mean weight loss at 80 weeks in 2,339 adults with obesity — exceeding any approved drug.
Wegovy NAION Risk Is Five Times Higher Than Ozempic
A British Journal of Ophthalmology study found Wegovy associated with nearly 5x higher odds of ischemic optic neuropathy than Ozempic despite identical active ingredient.
EASO Makes Semaglutide and Tirzepatide First-Line Drugs
EASO updated its 'living' obesity algorithm in Nature Medicine, placing semaglutide and tirzepatide as first-line and adding a split liver fibrosis pathway.
Researchers Find Why GLP-1 Weight Loss Eventually Slows
A May 2026 Nature Metabolism study identified cAMP signaling in hindbrain neurons as the mechanism behind semaglutide's plateau effect — and a potential route around it.
EU Regulator Backs Higher-Dose Wegovy 7.2 mg Pen
Europe's EMA committee recommended marketing authorisation for Wegovy 7.2 mg on May 22, citing 20.7% mean weight loss in the STEP UP trial — the drug's highest-dose form.
EU Regulator Backs Oral Wegovy, First GLP-1 Pill in Region
The EMA's CHMP recommended approval of oral Wegovy (semaglutide 25 mg daily) on May 22 — the first oral GLP-1 pill backed for EU weight management.
GLP-1s Cut MACE Risk 13% in 90,000-Patient Review
ARU's meta-analysis of 11 cardiovascular outcome trials finds GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce major adverse cardiovascular events by 13% over roughly 3 years.
Tirzepatide Doubles Semaglutide's 15% Loss Rate in Rheumatology
A real-world RISE registry study of 60,000+ rheumatology patients finds tirzepatide users nearly twice as likely as semaglutide users to lose 15% of body weight.
GLP-1 Users Face More Stigma Than Non-Users, Study Finds
Rice University researchers find GLP-1 users judged more harshly than dieters or those who stay at higher weight, in a new International Journal of Obesity study.
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Opens July at $50 Monthly Copay
CMS BALANCE Model Medicaid enrollment is open now. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge starts July 1, covering Wegovy and Zepbound at $50/month for Part D enrollees.
FDA Proposes Permanent Ban on 503B GLP-1 Compounding
The FDA proposed April 30 to exclude semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulks list. Public comments are open through June 29, 2026.
Retatrutide Hits 28.3% Weight Loss in TRIUMPH-1
Eli Lilly's TRIUMPH-1 Phase 3 trial showed retatrutide at 12 mg cut average body weight by 28.3% over 80 weeks — topping every approved GLP-1 drug on the market.
GLP-1 Dose-Response Confirmed in Real-World Study
A real-world analysis using 1 million+ US patient records confirms that greater weight loss on GLP-1s produces meaningfully lower rates of obesity-related complications.
Oral Wegovy: Early Responders Lost 21.6% at Week 64
New OASIS 4 sub-analyses at ECO 2026 show oral semaglutide 25 mg achieves 21.6% weight loss in early responders — and tops orforglipron on both efficacy and tolerability.
STEP UP: Semaglutide 7.2 mg Hits 20.7% Weight Loss
STEP UP sub-analyses at ECO 2026 show semaglutide 7.2 mg achieving 20.7% weight loss — 27.7% in early responders. FDA approved the dose in March 2026.
Aleniglipron Phase 2 Shows 16% Weight Loss in Oral Trial
Structure Therapeutics' aleniglipron hit 16.3% placebo-adjusted weight loss in Phase 2 ACCESS II — no liver injury or QTc signals across 625 participants.
Retatrutide TRIUMPH-4: 28.7% Weight Loss, New Safety Signal
Retatrutide's first Phase 3 win: TRIUMPH-4 shows 28.7% weight loss in obesity plus knee OA, with a novel dysesthesia signal at the highest dose.
SURPASS-CVOT: Tirzepatide Passes Cardio Outcomes Trial
SURPASS-CVOT confirms tirzepatide noninferior to dulaglutide for MACE in T2D with ASCVD — HR 0.92. Superiority missed by a narrow margin.
GLP-1 Drugs Work in Rare Genetic Obesity, Study Shows
A new mouse study found all three leading GLP-1 drugs produce weight loss in MC4R gene deficiency — the most common genetic cause of obesity.
UK Regulator Strengthens GLP-1 Pancreatitis Warning
UK regulator MHRA updated safety labels for all GLP-1s after post-marketing reports of fatal and necrotising pancreatitis in a small number of cases.
Survodutide Hits 16.6% Weight Loss in Phase 3
Survodutide hit 16.6% weight loss in SYNCHRONIZE-1 Phase 3. The Boehringer/Zealand glucagon-GLP-1 dual agonist met both primary endpoints; ADA readout in June.
FDA Moves to Permanently End 503B GLP-1 Compounding
FDA proposed excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulks list — permanently ending outsourcing-facility compounding if finalized.
GLP-1 Pills Reach Deeper into the Brain Than Expected
An NIH-funded Nature study found oral GLP-1 drugs activate the central amygdala — a reward circuit deeper than injectable GLP-1s were previously known to reach.
Oral Orforglipron Holds 75–79% of Prior Weight Loss
The ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial found orforglipron maintained 74.7–79.3% of weight lost on injectable GLP-1s — with a clinically meaningful gap over placebo.
Employers Keep Cutting GLP-1 Coverage as Costs Outrun Plans
Covered enrollees fell from 3.6M in 2024 to 2.8M in 2026 as more employers and state plans drop GLP-1 obesity coverage. The retreat is now a clear trend, not a blip.
Apotex Wins 2nd Generic Ozempic Approval in Canada
Health Canada has cleared a second generic semaglutide — this one made in Canada by Apotex — accelerating the price collapse expected to ripple across benefit plans.
GLP-1s Hit 8% of US Prescriptions in March 2026
GLP-1 receptor agonists made up nearly 8 of every 100 US prescriptions filled in March 2026, with first-time obesity prescribing up 21.7% over the prior quarter.
Amazon Pharmacy Adds Ozempic Pill, Expands Delivery
Amazon will stock Novo's oral Ozempic at One Medical pharmacy kiosks and offer same-day delivery in 4,500 cities by year-end at $149 cash or $25 with insurance.
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge to Cover Wegovy Starting July 1
Medicare's Bridge program will cover Wegovy, Zepbound KwikPen, and Foundayo at a flat $50 copay starting July 1, 2026 for eligible Part D enrollees.
Semaglutide Cuts Heavy Drinking Days in Lancet AUD Trial
A 108-patient Copenhagen trial published in The Lancet found weekly semaglutide on top of CBT cut heavy drinking days 13.7 points more than placebo over 26 weeks.
FDA Posts Liver Failure Report Linked to Lilly's Foundayo
A single liver failure case in the FDA adverse event database briefly knocked Lilly stock; analysts and Lilly say one report is not a safety signal.
Mounjaro Dethrones Keytruda as World's Top-Selling Drug
Eli Lilly's tirzepatide franchise pulled in $36.5B in 2025, edging past Merck's Keytruda — the first time a GLP-1 has held the global No. 1 sales spot.
Oral GLP-1 Drugs Access Brain Reward Circuit in Mice
A May 2026 Nature study found oral GLP-1 drugs reach the central amygdala in mice, suppressing dopamine-linked reward behavior — and may explain food noise quieting.
Wegovy Pill's Q1 Sales Double Estimates, Novo Hikes Guidance
Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy pulled in $354M in its first full quarter — twice analyst forecasts — and the company raised full-year guidance on the strength.
FDA Moves to End Large-Scale GLP-1 Compounding
On April 30, FDA proposed excluding semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulks list. What this means for compound pharmacy patients.
Retatrutide Phase 3: 24% Weight Loss in TRIUMPH-3
Eli Lilly's triple-agonist retatrutide hit primary endpoints in TRIUMPH-3 — highest dose group lost nearly a quarter of body weight in under a year.
Foundayo Approved: Lilly's Oral GLP-1 Needs No Fasting
The FDA approved Foundayo (orforglipron) on April 1, 2026 — the first oral GLP-1 that can be taken at any time without food or water restrictions.
Semaglutide Fails to Slow Alzheimer Disease in EVOKE
Oral semaglutide found no better than placebo at slowing Alzheimer cognitive decline in two Phase 3 trials — EVOKE and EVOKE+. Results published in The Lancet.
Pfizer's Monthly GLP-1 Shot Hits 12% Weight Loss
Pfizer's VESPER-3 Phase 2b trial of its once-monthly injectable GLP-1 PF'3944 hit its primary endpoint with 12.3% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 28 weeks.