Interest has exploded in a weight loss drug that was initially developed to help diabetics control their blood sugar.
The drug, semaglutide, is a weekly shot sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. Only one, Wegovy, is approved by the FDA as a weight-loss drug to treat obesity. Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, but patients have reported getting it prescribed off-label for that purpose. Celebrities have touted their use of it. Business journals covered its threat to the dieting industry.
The rise in interest has driven both drugs into shortage.
