CBS12 โ The new class of anti-obesity medications has become some of the most sought-after prescription drugs in history. According to some estimates, the U. While millions of Americans are taking these drugs, companies are battling over who is allowed to make them. Bruce Cohen, a Boca Raton resident, still remembers the conversation he had with his doctor seven years ago about a new drug to manage his diabetes.
He says it was the kickstart he needed to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Not only did he feel and look better while taking the Ozempics, but he also became more active.
One hundred percent better living through chemistry," Cohen said. However, like millions of other Americans with type-2 diabetes, Cohen quickly found the medication was getting hard to find. And what do they tell you? Well, let you know when it comes in. At first, drug makers blamed the shortage on pandemic supply chain issues. But the real reason was spiking demand. People worldwide realized that losing weight could be as simple as taking a weekly shot.
Jessica Chen Co-founded ThriveWell in Fort Lauderdale a company dedicated to transforming health, wellness, and longevity. The FDA declared a shortage, which made it possible for compound pharmacies to make the drugs, multiplying the supply. Chen adds. Now, almost anyone with a weight problem can get these medications online or at a local compounding pharmacy at a fraction of the cost charged by the big pharmaceutical companies that invented them.
These multinationals, which invested millions to create these revolutionary medications, are pushing the FDA to call off the shortage. But days later, the FDA reversed its decision. Last month, a federal judge in Florida tossed out a lawsuit by Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy and Ozempic. But the drugmakers are not giving up.
