From Fortune:

Eli Lilly warns against irresponsible use of popular diabetes and weight loss drugs due to the widespread shortages and growing demand for these “miracle drugs”. The company states that the drugs are explicitly intended for patients struggling with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, not “cosmetic” purposes.

Anat Ashkenazi, executive VP and CFO of Eli Lilly, explains that more than 110 million patients in the U.S. are affected by the complications of obesity. Here, he addresses that these drugs – Mounjaro and Zepbound – are aimed at treating serious diseases, not for cosmetic weight loss purposes, as issued in January 4th’s open letter.

Originally approved for treatment in 2022 & 2023 respectively, Mounjaro & Zepbound are highly regulated and should maintain a cost of over a thousand dollars, with strict insurance policies. However, these medications carry certain side effects that this warning does not elucidate.

The surge in popularity for these weight loss drugs has also led to the rise of knockoffs in the market, prompting the company to file legal action against wellness centers and medical spas for selling counterfeit drugs. The concern is that these counterfeit products may pose serious health risks due to impurities.

Globally, the weight loss marketplace may reach $77 billion in a decade. This claim comes from research by Morgan Stanley. It is suggested that the global demand for these weight loss drugs have caused a rampant shortage.



Read more: Eli Lilly cracks down on the use of weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound for ‘cosmetic’ reasons instead of diabetes and obesity