Cheaper diet pills are disrupting the market and causing compounded medications to decline in the United States.

The drop in prices of new oral obesity treatments marketed by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly is pushing more and more American patients to abandon compounded preparations in favor of brand-name drugs, according to several doctors interviewed by Reuters.

Oral versions of Wegovy, developed by Novo Nordisk, and Foundayo, launched by Eli Lilly, are offered at prices lower than those of injectable obesity treatments. For low dosages, their prices are now comparable to those of preparations made by some specialized pharmacies, which produce versions composed of the active ingredients of the medications.

This development comes at a time when many patients are seeing their insurance coverage for obesity treatments decrease, making less expensive alternatives particularly attractive. Doctors believe this pricing strategy largely benefits major pharmaceutical companies, which are seeking to win back patients who have opted for cheaper compounded medications in recent years.

Novo Nordisk began marketing its Wegovy pill in the United States in January, while Eli Lilly launched Foundayo in April. Both companies reported strong demand, particularly from new patients. However, the pharmaceutical companies criticized compounded medications, arguing that they are not subject to certain quality control standards applied to brand-name drugs.

Compounded medications saw a significant surge during shortages of original obesity treatments. In the United States, the FDA authorizes these personalized formulations in certain situations, particularly when a drug is unavailable or requires a specific dosage. But with the gradual return of stocks, the U.S. agency is now seeking to strengthen the restrictions governing these practices.

Several health specialists report observing a clear shift in patient habits. "I'm seeing more and more patients abandoning compounded medications," said Dr. Michael Weintraub, assistant professor of clinical endocrinology at NYU Langone University in New York. According to him, many patients are now requesting to switch to brand-name medications after learning that their prices have decreased.

Despite this growing enthusiasm, doctors emphasize that cost remains a major obstacle for many Americans. Even at reduced prices, these treatments remain expensive without sufficient health insurance coverage, which continues to limit their access for a significant portion of the population suffering from obesity.