Over the past couple of years, there’s been a lot of excitement about the new weight-loss drugs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved that many people have been using successfully to lose weight. These drugs include: semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic), liraglutide (Saxenda), tirzepatide (Zepbound and Mounjaro), orlistat (Xenical and Alli), phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), and naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave).
Some newer names have hit the market as of late, such as Novo Nordisk’s combination drug called CagriSema that was up there with Lilly’s Zepbound. However, it didn’t make it in the late-stage clinical trial findings. This is because the experimental drug puts semaglutide together with a medicine called cagrilintide to make CagriSema.
In a 68-week study, participants taking CagriSema lost about 23% of their body weight compared with 12% for those people taking only cagrilintide. Those taking only semaglutide lost 16%, and those on a placebo lost 2.3%. The study’s main goal was met, even though those watching the race wanted an average result for CagriSema of at least 25%.
As for side effects, CagriSema is similar to the other drugs in the GLP-1 class. The most common are mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal issues that go away over time. However, only a little more than half of the participants made it up to the highest dose of the drug, which may be a sign that the combination may not be tolerable at high doses. Novo Nordisk is expecting results from a second Phase 3 trial of the medicine in the first half of 2025. However, this one will be with people who have type 2 diabetes.
Several other weight-loss drugs have been introduced in 2025, and they’re all building on success of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy.
- Amycretin: This obesity drug was developed by Novo Nordisk and has shown promising results in early trials. Patients lost up to 22% of their body weight after 36 weeks. Amycretin is a GLP-1 and amylin-receptor agonist. This means it mimics the action of both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and amylin hormones. These hormones aid in regulating blood sugar and satiety, which makes Amycretin effective for weight loss.
- Tirzepatide (Zepbound): Approved originally for type 2 diabetes under the name Mounjaro, Zepbound has also been approved for obesity. It works by stimulating the release of both GLP-1 and GIP hormones.
- Viking Therapeutics’ Experimental Drug: This drug has shown potential in early studies. In fact, Viking Therapeutics is advancing a subcutaneous formulation of VK2735, which showed significant results in its Phase 2 VENTURE study, with weight reductions up to 14.7%. Their plan is to initiate Phase 3 development for the subcutaneous formulation in the first half of 2025.
While GLP-1 agonist use has taken off, not just anyone can take them. And once someone begins taking them, they need to stay on them forever. For example, Ozempic and Mounjaro are FDA-approved only to treat individuals who are overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Then there’s Wegovy and Zepbound that are approved to treat obesity and weight in individuals without diabetes.
A July 2024 paper published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that over 85% of subjects taking once-weekly injections of the full dosage (2.4mg) of semaglutide lost more than 5% of their body weight, with over one-third of participants losing more than 20%.
These weight-loss drugs in particular offer hope for women who have a tougher time losing weight (especially during and after menopause) than men. In fact, women do better and lose more weight on GLP-1 agonists than men. What’s important to note is that with any medication, the risks of side effects are real, and more serious side effects are possible. The FDA is monitoring reports of suicidal thoughts or actions by those taking the drugs.
Because of the high demand for weight-loss drugs, both semaglutide and tirzepatide injections have been on the FDA’s drug shortage list since 2022. Those people who succeed in finding the drug at the dosage they need soon learn their insurance provider won’t cover the heavy cost, which ranges from $900 to $1,600 per month.
Is your independent pharmacy looking to sell new weight-loss drugs? If so, here are some tips to get you started out smoothly with your patients:
Educate your staff
Your staff needs to be well informed about the new weight-loss drugs. Be sure they know the benefits, the side effects, and how to properly use them. In turn, this will help them educate patients by providing accurate information and support.
Build strong connections in your community
Make relationships with your local healthcare providers, nutritionists, and fitness centers. Plan together some events or workshops to teach the community about weight-loss options and healthy lifestyle choices.
Offer patient support
Put together support programs that include regular check-ins, counseling, and follow-up appointments to help patients stay on track with their goals.
Use social media
Be active on social media platforms and engage with your followers. Share patients’ success stories, health tips, and information about the new weight-loss drugs. And don’t forget to respond regularly to comments and messages. This will help you build rapport with your patients.
Perfect your online presence
Is your website up to date? If not, be sure to add information about the new weight-loss drugs. Put in the pricing, when they’re going to be available, and how to get started. It’s also important to encourage your satisfied patients to leave positive reviews.
Offer your own special promotions
You can offer introductory offers, bulk purchase discounts, or bundling services to attract new patients. Offer a discount for their first month of treatment or provide free consultations.
Provide patient education
It’s important to create some educational materials for your patients, such as brochures and even videos. These can help patients understand how the new weight-loss drugs work and what to expect. It can also alleviate concerns or misconceptions they have.
Work with insurance companies
Work with insurance companies to guarantee that the new weight-loss drugs are covered under your patients’ plans. That way, the medications are more affordable and accessible to everyone.
Keep an eye on patient outcomes
Monitor your patients’ progress using the new weight-loss drugs. Ask for feedback so you can improve your services and support programs.
By simply implementing these tips, your independent pharmacy can sell and support the use of new weight-loss drugs. Not only will your business benefit, but your patients will, too.
More articles from the March 2025 issue:
- Secondary Stress
- Sight-Loss Support
- PBMs and How They Affect Your Pharmacy
- White Label vs. Private Label Products
- Welcoming AI into Your Pharmacy
- AI-Powered Patient Counseling
- Diagnosing Childhood Asthma
- New Weight-Loss Drugs
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