RFK Jr. on Ozempic, Eli Lilly's next test, and Elon Musk gets on the bandwagon: Pharma news roundup

Conagra Brands (CAG), which makes products under names such as Boom Chicka Pop, Hunt’s, and Marie Callender’s, announced today that it will add a “GLP-1 friendly” label to 26 select items in its Healthy Choice frozen food line.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has shed more light on his views on popular weight-loss treatments. Kennedy, who is not a doctor, told CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Thursday that while GLP-1 medications have their place in treatment, lifestyle changes should remain the primary approach for weight loss. This marks a more nuanced stance from the nominee, who has previously been critical of pharmaceutical solutions to obesity.

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The digital health company Noom announced Thursday that it is expanding its weight-loss drug offerings to include pills, starting with metformin. Starting this week the company is now offering a low-cost generic version of metformin starting at $29. This oral treatment has been used to treat type 2 diabetes for half a century and is often prescribed off-label to support weight loss by helping reduce appetite and blood sugar, and improve insulin sensitivity.

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Most pharmacies have seen little innovation over the years. But recently, and partly driven by the pandemic, companies such as Amazon (AMZN) and Walgreens (WBA) have been working to update the pharmacy experience, making it more digital and expanding the range of services they provide.

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Elon Musk, the richest person alive and the co-head of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is doubling down on his support for expanding access to affordable GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Ozempic.

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Eli Lilly, the pharma giant that produces the popular weight-loss drug Zepbound, said it plans to test obesity medications as a treatment for alcohol and drug addiction starting next year. The news comes as the body of evidence suggesting that Zepbound and other GLP-1 weight-loss medications could help people with substance-use disorders continues to grow.

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Eli Lilly (LLY) has announced it will make lower-priced, single-dose vials of its popular weight-loss treatment Zepbound available on telehealth platform Ro. Starting this week, consumers can get an online diagnosis, prescription services, and Zepbound vials delivered to straight their homes — all via Ro.

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