The Gut Punch Weekly #23

Jun 04, 2025

Top Stories

Novo Nordisk, once Europe's most valuable company due to Ozempic and Wegovy, has lost market share in the anti-obesity drug sector it pioneered.
- Production issues, shortages, and a cautious approach led to missteps in the Wegovy rollout.
The company's R&D efforts have also disappointed, with clinical trial results for new combination drugs falling short of expectations.
- U.S. rival Eli Lilly capitalized on these shortcomings with more effective drugs, a stronger pipeline, and faster, more aggressive moves in manufacturing and marketing.

(WSJ)

Regeneron has secured ex‐China rights to Hansoh Pharma's GLP‐1/GIP receptor agonist HS‑20094 for $80 million upfront, with potential payments of up to $1.93 billion in milestones.
- The drug, currently in phase 3 trials for obesity in China, is believed to have a similar profile to Eli Lilly's Zepbound.
The acquisition of HS‑20094 allows Regeneron to explore combination therapies to holistically address muscle loss and other obesity‐related comorbidities.

Regeneron's experimental drug trevogrumab, when combined with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, helped preserve up to 51.3% of lean muscle mass after 26 weeks of treatment, compared to 34.5% loss with Wegovy alone.
- This combination approach addresses a key limitation of current weight-loss drugs: the significant loss of lean muscle mass alongside fat.
The study showed that patients on Wegovy alone lost about 23 pounds, with 7.9 pounds being lean mass, while those on the combination treatment lost 21.6 pounds with only 3.7 pounds of lean mass lost.
- Trevogrumab’s results position Regeneron as a potential leader in developing next-generation obesity treatments that maintain muscle mass.

Eli Lilly Secures $870M Deal with Camurus for Long-Acting Obesity Drugs: Eli Lilly is partnering with Camurus in an $870 million deal to develop long-acting obesity drugs using FluidCrystal technology for sustained drug delivery.
Novo Faces Legal Fee Demand After Losing Wegovy Lawsuit: Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk faces a $439,000 fee request after losing a lawsuit against a Florida pharmacy over compounded versions of its weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.
Hims Cuts Staff Amid FDA Ban on Wegovy Copies: Telehealth platform Hims & Hers is laying off 4% of its workforce following an FDA ban on compounded Wegovy copies, which previously contributed $200 million to their revenue.
AgelessRx Adds Zepbound to Longevity-Driven Weight Loss Options: AgelessRx has expanded its longevity-focused weight care options to include Zepbound and Compounded Liraglutide + B12, broadening access to GLP-1-based metabolic health treatments.

Health Organizations Issue GLP-1 Nutrition Support Guidelines: Four leading health groups released new guidelines emphasizing nutrition and lifestyle support as essential for patients on GLP-1 obesity medications to optimize health outcomes and minimize risks.
Collagen Protein Bars Show Promise for Weight Loss: A new study shows collagen-enriched protein bars helped overweight participants lose twice as much weight as controls, offering a potential cheaper, side-effect-free alternative to GLP-1 drugs.
Natural GLP-1 Weight Loss Supplements Lack Scientific Support: Doctors warn that 'natural GLP-1' supplements lack scientific evidence for significant weight loss, and are not comparable to prescription GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy.

Trump Administration Halts Plans for GLP-1 Coverage: The Trump administration has halted plans to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs, leaving millions without access despite rising demand and potential health benefits.
Wegovy Prescriptions for Teens Increase Amid Obesity Crisis: Wegovy prescriptions for U.S. teens with obesity increased 50% in the past year, though overall usage remains limited due to insurance barriers.
Making GLP-1s OTC May Unlock Full Potential: Making GLP-1 drugs available over the counter could lower costs, increase access, and unlock their potential to treat obesity and various substance use disorders.
AI Technology Slashes GLP-1 Authorization Times by 83%: AI-powered electronic prior authorization systems have reduced GLP-1 medication approval times by 83%, streamlining access for patients and easing administrative burdens for healthcare providers.

Less Frequent GLP-1 Dosing Intervals May Maintain Weight Loss: A new study suggests that GLP-1 weight loss medications may maintain their effectiveness even when taken less frequently than prescribed, with mathematical modeling showing that bi-weekly dosing could preserve up to 78% of weight loss benefits.

Beta-Glucan Fiber Rivals Ozempic for Weight Loss Benefits: Scientists discovered that beta-Glucan fiber uniquely promotes weight loss and metabolic benefits in mice by increasing gut bacteria that produce butyrate, which stimulates GLP-1 release similar to Ozempic's mechanism.
Veru's Muscle-Sparing Obesity Drug Ready for Phase 3 Trial: Veru's Phase 2 trial shows its muscle-preserving obesity drug enobosarm, when combined with Wegovy may cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects while better preserving lean body mass in older patients.