Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (Semaglutide) Shortage and Fake Eli Lilly Twitter Account Announces Free Insulin – Xtalks Life Science Podcast Ep. 86

In this episode, Ayesha discussed Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (semaglutide) shortage, largely attributed to off-label prescribing for weight loss and viral TikTok videos. The GLP-1 agonist is indicated as a type 2 diabetes treatment but has weight loss as a side effect. The shortage could give competitor Eli Lilly’s new dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist Mounjaro added market advantage, but can the company meet the unprecedented demand?

Ayesha also talked about Eli Lilly falling victim to a fake Twitter account that tweeted the company was offering free insulin. The fraudulent account has a blue check, which users can purchase through a $8 per month subscription for the revamped Twitter Blue program introduced by Elon Musk. Lilly clarified the fake message, but the tweet has re-ignited debate about the cost of insulin in the US.