A 2022 study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed participants receiving semaglutide lost an average of 50+ pounds over 68 weeks, compared to 6 pounds in the placebo group
The licensed options now also include an oral GLP-1 medicine
Final Thoughts GLP-1 patches may seem like a convenient shortcut, but the reality is that there is currently no over-the-counter patch that contains an FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist medication
Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 355:14771488
Medication alternatives to Zofran (ondansetron) Nausea and vomiting Zofran prescription FAQs What is Zofran used for
Here are a few ways future formulations could shift the market: Oral (Rybelsus 2.0, better semaglutide formulations) What changes: Easier to prescribe and adhere to, but worse tolerability Where it moves: Into primary care lower friction, tighter payer control Strategic shift: More access, same adherence problem Risk: Higher churn, more side-effect driven dropout Next-gen combos (e.g., GLP-1 + GIP + amylin, muscle-sparing) What changes: Better outcomes, better tolerability Where it moves : Into specialist-aligned care models deeper payer integration Strategic shift: Drugs become platforms unlock long-term value Risk: Slow coverage without strong RWE