Latest news with #onlinepharmacy
CNN
2 days ago
- Health
- CNN
How one company is digitizing medical access in Angola
As the largest online pharmacy network in Angola, Appy Saúde is opening up health and medical access to an entirely new population. Company CEO Pedro Beirão spoke to CNN about what's driving the company's rapid 95% growth rate year over year.
Medical News Today
12-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Wegovy Online: Getting a Wegovy (semaglutide) Prescription in 2025
Key takeawaysPeople can only get Wegovy online with a doctor's prescription. Eligible people must meet specific eligibility criteria, including having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher or a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related health can cost between $1,300 and $1,400 per dose without insurance, but savings programs and health insurance can significantly reduce out-of-pocket reputable telehealth companies offer Wegovy prescriptions online. These include PlushCare or Sesame Care. People with existing prescriptions can try Amazon Pharmacy.A quick look at where to buy Wegovy onlineBest for coaching: Ro Body for Wegovy | Skip to reviewBest for a weight loss program: Noom Med for Wegovy | Skip to reviewBest for insurance coverage: PlushCare for Wegovy | Skip to reviewBest for fast appointments: Sesame Care for Wegovy | Skip to reviewBest for a holistic approach: Calibrate Metabolic Reset | Skip to reviewBest for coupons and savings: Amazon Pharmacy for Wegovy | Skip to reviewBest for money back guarantee: LifeMD for Wegovy | Skip to reviewOur top picks for places to get Wegovy onlineBelow, we look into some of the best places to get Wegovy online. Telehealth services offer several weight loss medications, including Wegovy. Getting Wegovy online with insurance from these companies is often simple, as many may accept insurance to reduce the cost of their weight management services. However, you will still have to check with your insurance provider to see if they will cover the cost of any for coachingRo Body for WegovyAccepts insurance: yesConsultation fee: $45Subscription fee: $145 per monthOther available resources: health coaching, weight loss programGET STARTED WITH ROMNT's reviewRo is a telehealth company offering services for sexual health, fertility, and hair and skin health. It recently began offering weight loss services under the Ro Body program, which combines prescription weight loss medication with personalized the Ro Body program, eligible customers can access Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic or Body is a 12-month program that costs $45 for the first month and $145 each month afterward. The service bills medications at an additional to get a prescriptionWhen signing up for Ro Body, individuals will have a consultation with one of Ro's healthcare professional partners. In some cases, they may recommend a blood an individual acquires approval for Wegovy, a healthcare professional will write a prescription, and the company can send the medication to a designated pharmacy within 4 to 6 weeks of the initial insurance does not cover Ro Body, Ro's insurance concierge will help customers navigate their insurance coverage for GLP-1 supportMembers of the Ro Body program can benefit from personal coaching, an at-home metabolism test kit, up to 24 video sessions with a healthcare professional, and online lessons on exercise, nutrition, sleep, and mental our in-depth review of & consone-on-one coachingworks with insurance providers to determine coverageon-demand messaging with healthcare professionalhigher cost than some similar platformsnot all health coaches have professional nutrition credentialsone-on-one coachingworks with insurance providers to determine coverageon-demand messaging with healthcare professionalhigher cost than some similar platformsnot all health coaches have professional nutrition credentialsProduct detailsAvailable medications: Ozempic, Wegovy, ZepboundReturns: memberships can be cancelled before next billing cycleShipping: prescriptions are sent to local pharmacyAvailable medications: Ozempic, Wegovy, ZepboundReturns: memberships can be cancelled before next billing cycleShipping: prescriptions are sent to local pharmacyBest for a weight loss programNoom Med for WegovyAccepts insurance: no, but some employee benefits packages may provide coverageConsultation fee: $0Subscription fee: $69 for your first month, plus $99 per month going forwardOther available resources: health coaching, comprehensive weight loss curriculum, food tracking appGET STARTED WITH NOOMMNT's reviewNoom is a company that aims to help people lose weight and maintain this weight loss healthily and sustainably. Recently, the company launched Noom Med is an umbrella for all options that feature medical support and offers branded Wegovy. Noom Med costs $69 for your first month, plus $99 per month thereafter, and this includes a Noom Weight to get a prescriptionTo use this service, you must complete a questionnaire about your demographic profile, including how much weight you want to lose and your current eating appropriate, the service will connect you with a clinician who will order lab tests and create a personalized weight loss plan, including supportNoom Med is only available to those with a Noom Weight membership. Members can benefit from tracking tools, meal and fitness plans, and a range of lifestyle and behavioral support that may help with sustainable weight loss and weight management more about Noom vs Weight & consholistic weight loss approach subscription covers the cost of consultationsaccepts insuranceonly available in 35 statesunclear pricing for lab tests and medicationholistic weight loss approach subscription covers the cost of consultationsaccepts insuranceonly available in 35 statesunclear pricing for lab tests and medicationProduct detailsAvailable medications: Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, MounjaroReturns: memberships are cancelable, but program costs are nonrefundableShipping: may varyAAPI-FoundedAvailable medications: Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, MounjaroReturns: memberships are cancelable, but program costs are nonrefundableShipping: may varyAAPI-FoundedBest for insurance coveragePlushCare for WegovyAccepts insurance: yesConsultation fee: insurance copay or $129 for first visit without insuranceSubscription fee: $19.99 per monthOther available resources: unlimited messaging with care team, discounts on lab testsGET STARTED WITH PLUSHCAREMNT's reviewPlushCare offers several GLP-1 medications, including Wegovy.A PlushCare membership costs $19.99 per month. If you do not have insurance, you must pay $129 for your first membership may save you money if you do not have insurance or if your insurer will not cover the cost of the company's Rx Price Finder and a prescription discount card, people who take out a membership can save up to 80% on more about the best telemedicine to get a prescriptionTo receive a prescription for Wegovy from PlushCare, you must book an appointment with a board certified professional with experience treating weight management concerns. Many appointments are available on the same all reputable services, you must undergo lab tests before a healthcare professional prescribes the supportThe company will work with your insurance company to cover all or part of the cost of Plushcare members benefit from unlimited messaging with a healthcare professional and discounts on lab our in-depth review of & consplans include lifestyle recommendationsthose without insurance can save money with a discount card and Rx Price Findercompetitive membership pricingnot as much holistic support as other companieswithout membership, you must pay for doctor consultationsplans include lifestyle recommendationsthose without insurance can save money with a discount card and Rx Price Findercompetitive membership pricingnot as much holistic support as other companieswithout membership, you must pay for doctor consultationsProduct detailsReturns: memberships can be cancelled before next billing cycleShipping: prescriptions are sent to local pharmacyReturns: memberships can be cancelled before next billing cycleShipping: prescriptions are sent to local pharmacyBest for fast appointmentsSesame Care for WegovyAccepts insurance: noConsultation fee: varies by healthcare professionalSubscription fee: from $89Other available resources: Sesame Care Plus subscription comes with free lab or blood tests and $10 off dental and primary care visitsGET STARTED WITH SESAME CAREMNT's reviewWhile Sesame Care does not offer a weight loss membership, Sesame Care Plus may help reduce the cost of appointments. This subscription costs $10.99 per month or $99 per to get a prescriptionTo receive a prescription for Wegovy from Sesame Care, you must book an appointment with a healthcare professional through its healthcare professionals have same-day availability. Once a doctor prescribes the medication, you can pick up Wegovy at your local pharmacy on the same supportSesame Care members benefit from $10 off every telehealth, primary care, dentist, or specialist appointment. They also receive one free lab or blood test our in-depth review of Sesame & conslower fees for healthcare professional consultationsoffers same-day pickupdoes not offer as much support as other servicesmembership options do not offer as many benefits as some other serviceslower fees for healthcare professional consultationsoffers same-day pickupdoes not offer as much support as other servicesmembership options do not offer as many benefits as some other servicesProduct detailsReturns: full refund when cancelled within 3 hours before scheduled virtual visit or 24 hours before scheduled in-person visitShipping: prescriptions are sent to local pharmacyReturns: full refund when cancelled within 3 hours before scheduled virtual visit or 24 hours before scheduled in-person visitShipping: prescriptions are sent to local pharmacyBest for a holistic approachCalibrate Metabolic ResetAccepts insurance: The program is not covered by insurance. However, GLP-1 medications may be covered depending on your insurance fee: $0Subscription fee: $199 per month with 3-month commitmentOther available resources: personalized video coaching, comprehensive weight loss curriculumGET STARTED WITH CALIBRATEMNT's reviewCalibrate offers its members the opportunity to lose weight via its Metabolic Reset program, a 52-week program includes lab work, a virtual doctor visit, support navigating insurance coverage, and ongoing access to medical and support to get a prescriptionTo join Calibrate's Metabolic Reset Program, you must first complete an online form. The service will then provide you with a link to schedule an online visit with one of Calibrate's will email a lab order to you 3 days after joining. You will need to contact a local healthcare professional about giving a blood sample so that the results are available for the Calibrate doctor before your first online is available in all 50 U.S. states, including supportCalibrate states that it will navigate your insurance on their behalf. For most members with commercial insurance, the cost should reportedly be around $25 per month or service also offers holistic weight loss support through 1:1 bi-weekly video coaching sessions, tracking tools, and a curriculum focused on food, sleep, exercise, and emotional 5 days after signing up, you will receive your welcome kit, including instructions on downloading the Calibrate app, syncing the scale, and syncing Google Fit or Apple Health & consavailable in all 50 U.S. states and promote gradual diet and lifestyle changesincludes 1:1 bi-weekly video coaching sessionsa range of available GLP-1 medications1-year minimum sign-upprogram cost does not include GLP-1 medication program coaches are not qualified healthcare professionalsavailable in all 50 U.S. states and promote gradual diet and lifestyle changesincludes 1:1 bi-weekly video coaching sessionsa range of available GLP-1 medications1-year minimum sign-upprogram cost does not include GLP-1 medication program coaches are not qualified healthcare professionalsProduct detailsAvailable medications: Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Saxenda, Trulicity, RybelsusReturns: full refund if canceled within 72 hours of purchaseShipping: prescriptions are shipped free or sent to local pharmacyWomen-FoundedAvailable medications: Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Saxenda, Trulicity, RybelsusReturns: full refund if canceled within 72 hours of purchaseShipping: prescriptions are shipped free or sent to local pharmacyWomen-FoundedBest for coupons and savingsAmazon Pharmacy for WegovyAccepts insurance: yesConsultation fee: noSubscription fee: optional $14.99 monthly Amazon Prime membershipOther available resources: noneSHOP NOW AT AMAZON PHARMACYMNT's reviewPeople can fill an existing Wegovy prescription through Amazon Pharmacy. This service is free and available to those with or without an Amazon Prime subscription. Users only pay the price of their will automatically apply any eligible Wegovy coupons to a person's medication order, which can provide significant savings on the cost of Wegovy. The pharmacy also helps users check their insurance copay to make pricing accessible and transparent. Plus, Amazon writes that Prime members can save up to 80% on brand-name and generic to get a prescriptionNew users can transfer an existing Wegovy prescription to Amazon Pharmacy. If a person is looking to get a Wegovy prescription, they can sign up for Amazon One Medical to speak to a doctor. This partnership is between Amazon and One Medical, a telehealth company with online and in-person appointments available throughout the United supportIf people need support with their orders, Amazon pharmacists are available 24/7. However, unless a person has an Amazon One Medical subscription, there is no follow-up support available related to a person's health goals or treatment plan through Amazon Pharmacy. People seeking help with their treatment plan may wish to consider an Amazon One Medical subscription to get access to regular appointments with a & consoffers transparent pricingautomatically applies eligible couponssuitable for those with existing prescriptionsreportedly fast shipping times those without an existing prescription need to sign up for Amazon One Medicalno follow-up care for Wegovy available from healthcare professionalsoffers transparent pricingautomatically applies eligible couponssuitable for those with existing prescriptionsreportedly fast shipping times those without an existing prescription need to sign up for Amazon One Medicalno follow-up care for Wegovy available from healthcare professionalsProduct detailsReturns: no returnsShipping: Free 2-day delivery for Prime membersReturns: no returnsShipping: Free 2-day delivery for Prime membersBest for money back guaranteeLifeMD for WegovyAccepts insurance: no but offers support navigating insurance coverageConsultation fee: not disclosedSubscription fee: starts from $75Other available resources: insurance navigation, clinical guidance, metabolic testing, weight loss tracker, ongoing physician careSHOP NOW AT LIFEMDMNT's reviewLifeMD's Weight Management Program costs $75 monthly and includes insurance assistance and ongoing provider care. With insurance copay, a 30-day supply of medication will cost between $0 and $ to get a prescriptionTo get started, a person must complete a confidential online questionnaire about their weight loss goals and health history. An affiliated provider will then receive this form for review to determine if Wegovy is suitable for the person they are approved, a prescription is sent to a local pharmacy. If stock is unavailable, an alternative for direct postage to the person's address may be supportIf you can only buy Wegovy online without insurance, LifeMD will present different options and may offer prescription discount coupons to reduce total out-of-pocket payments. LifeMD also offers a unique weight loss money-back guarantee. If participants in their Weight Management Program don't lose at least 10% of their body weight within a year, they're eligible for a & consprovides insurance assistance and supportoffers money back guaranteeshipping cost is not included in the monthly costprovides insurance assistance and supportoffers money back guaranteeshipping cost is not included in the monthly costProduct detailsReturns: no returnsShipping: $25 shippingReturns: no returnsShipping: $25 shippingComparing where to get Wegovy onlineThe following table compares the services offering Wegovy prescriptions costSubscription priceRo Bodyfrom $270 per month without insurance$45 for the first month, $145 monthly thereafterNoom Medno information available$69 for the first month, $99 monthly thereafterPlushCare$1,300 to $1,500 per injection$19.99 per monthSesame Care$249 per month$10.99 per month or $99 per yearCalibrate$25 per month or less for members who have commercial insurance$199 per month or $1,749 per yearAmazon Pharmacyfrom $50 with insurancefrom $1,618.83 without insurancefree or included with Amazon Prime membershipLifeMDup to $25 with insurancefrom $1,350 without insurancefrom $75 a monthIs it possible to get a Wegovy prescription online?Yes, it is possible to get a Wegovy prescription online. Several telehealth companies offer this medication if a healthcare professional believes it is you sign up for an online weight management service, a doctor on the platform will contact you via phone or the service's website. After this consultation, you will likely need to complete lab tests to ensure Wegovy is the right medication for your advantage of getting Wegovy online is that it is quicker and more convenient than visiting a physical doctor's office, especially if you live in a more rural location. Some services may send the medication directly to your home, or you can pick it up at your local pharmacy that same day.»MORE:How to reduce the cost of WegovyHow we chose the best places to get Wegovy onlineMedical News Today carefully vets every telehealth service that offers glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medications. We only include companies that meet the following criteria:Safety: These services do not offer compounded semaglutide. Compounded semaglutide can be dangerous and cause adverse health These services have clear and accessible privacy policies and will not sell a customer's personal or medical to healthcare professionals: These services work with board certified healthcare professionals to review responses, provide consultations, and prescribe medication. Insurance: All these services work with major insurance companies to cover as many medications as criteria for WegovyWegovy is the first GLP-1 medication to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. The organization approved it in there are strict eligibility criteria that you will need to meet before a healthcare professional will prescribe the medication:You must have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or must have a BMI of 27 or over and have at least one weight-related health ages 12 and over must have a BMI in the 95th percentile for their age and health conditions include type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood professionals will also recommend following a calorie-reduced diet and increasing your physical activity while taking this the best meal delivery services for weight should not use Wegovy?Wegovy may be unsuitable for some individuals. To the best of your knowledge, you must answer any healthcare professional's questions to help reduce the risk of severe and possibly fatal side effects. People with the following circumstances should not use Wegovy:a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancerMultiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome 2a high risk of pancreatitissevere allergic reactions to semaglutide or other ingredients in Wegovy»Learn about Wegovy side effects.A note on Wegovy shortagesWegovy is just one of the popular weight loss injections experiencing shortages. Due to increased demand, doses of Wegovy (semaglutide) can sometimes be in short supply. Depending on the strength a doctor prescribes, you may find it difficult to get this of May 2025, Wegovy is available in all doses, and the FDA has declared its previous shortage as some pharmacies may offer compounded semaglutide, it is best to avoid buying non-branded medication. The FDA has not approved compounded semaglutide or evaluated its safety. It has also received reports of adverse effects from people who used compounded versions of this professionals may prescribe alternative GLP-1 medications, such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, or more about alternatives to for buying Wegovy onlineIt is important to choose a safe online pharmacy that offers authentic Wegovy medication. Some signs of safe and unsafe pharmacies include the following:A safe online pharmacy will:always need a valid prescription before providing medicationhave a physical address and telephone number in the United Stateshave a licensed pharmacist available to answer questionsAn unsafe online pharmacy may:not ask for a prescriptionnot have a United States or board license to operatenot have a licensed pharmacist available to answer questionssend medication that is in broken or damaged packaging, in an unexpected language, or has expiredoffer Wegovy at prices that seem very low, or offer discounts or couponsnot provide a clear privacy policy, or may sell personal and medical information to other sitesmay use counterfeit medications that can contain dangerous substances or incorrect dosesFeatured Partner OfferAmazon One Medical 4.9 (41k+) from App StoreAccepts insurance: yesAvailable GLP-1 medications: Mounjaro, Wegovy, ZepboundMembership price: $9 per month with PrimePay-per-visit price: from $29SHOP NOW AT AMAZONFrequently asked questions about getting Wegovy onlineIs Wegovy right for me?Wegovy is just one of several GLP-1 medications that can help you lose weight and manage any weight-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Wegovy contains semaglutide, which is also the main ingredient in Ozempic. While Ozempic does not have FDA approval for weight management, doctors may prescribe it there are no studies investigating the effectiveness of Wegovy versus Ozempic, doctors prescribe Wegovy at a higher dose, which may mean you notice more weight loss. It is important to ask your doctor about each medication's side effects and attend follow-up appointments to adjust or change your medication as more about the differences between Wegovy and is just one of several GLP-1 medications that can help you lose weight and manage any weight-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Wegovy contains semaglutide, which is also the main ingredient in Ozempic. While Ozempic does not have FDA approval for weight management, doctors may prescribe it there are no studies investigating the effectiveness of Wegovy versus Ozempic, doctors prescribe Wegovy at a higher dose, which may mean you notice more weight loss. It is important to ask your doctor about each medication's side effects and attend follow-up appointments to adjust or change your medication as more about the differences between Wegovy and Wegovy make me lose weight?Yes, Wegovy can help you lose weight. This drug delays gastric emptying, meaning food stays longer in your stomach, making you feel fuller. However, Wegovy is not a miracle drug. You must still make lifestyle changes, such as reducing your calorie intake and increasing physical services offering weight loss programs, such as Noom and Calibrate, can help you make sustainable lifestyle changes during and after taking Wegovy can help you lose weight. This drug delays gastric emptying, meaning food stays longer in your stomach, making you feel fuller. However, Wegovy is not a miracle drug. You must still make lifestyle changes, such as reducing your calorie intake and increasing physical services offering weight loss programs, such as Noom and Calibrate, can help you make sustainable lifestyle changes during and after taking do I need to ask my doctor before taking Wegovy?It is important to ask your doctor any questions that you may have before starting any medication. This can help you decide whether you trust them to professionally and supportively assist you on your health you do not like the way the healthcare professional answers your questions or feel as though they will not give you the support you need while taking medication, you might need to find another doctor. Having a healthcare professional who can answer your questions in a way you can understand is very questions you may wish to ask include:What dose will you be prescribing, and why?What side effects can I expect with this dose?How do I store the medication?How do I use the medication?Do you offer any further help and support, or can you refer me to someone who does?What happens if my dose is out of stock?It is important to ask your doctor any questions that you may have before starting any medication. This can help you decide whether you trust them to professionally and supportively assist you on your health you do not like the way the healthcare professional answers your questions or feel as though they will not give you the support you need while taking medication, you might need to find another doctor. Having a healthcare professional who can answer your questions in a way you can understand is very questions you may wish to ask include:What dose will you be prescribing, and why?What side effects can I expect with this dose?How do I store the medication?How do I use the medication?Do you offer any further help and support, or can you refer me to someone who does?What happens if my dose is out of stock?What happens after I stop taking Wegovy?Wegovy is a drug that you can stay on long term. However, some people may need to stop taking this medication, especially if they are experiencing side you stop taking Wegovy, you may gain some of the weight you previously lost. However, there are ways to stop or limit this rebound weight.A study that the European Congress of Obesity featured found that people can maintain their weight loss by slowly tapering down the dosage. You may wish to consult your doctor to determine a tapering schedule to maximize your likelihood of maintaining weight loss.A 2024 study found that using semaglutide while exercising can help maintain weight loss after stopping the medication. You can increase your physical activity at a gym or use home gym equipment, which may be more is a drug that you can stay on long term. However, some people may need to stop taking this medication, especially if they are experiencing side you stop taking Wegovy, you may gain some of the weight you previously lost. However, there are ways to stop or limit this rebound weight.A study that the European Congress of Obesity featured found that people can maintain their weight loss by slowly tapering down the dosage. You may wish to consult your doctor to determine a tapering schedule to maximize your likelihood of maintaining weight loss.A 2024 study found that using semaglutide while exercising can help maintain weight loss after stopping the medication. You can increase your physical activity at a gym or use home gym equipment, which may be more weight loss pill is similar to Wegovy?Several FDA-approved pills can help people manage weight, including:Alli (orlistat)ContraveQysmiaHowever, none of these medications work in the same way as Wegovy. There are no weight loss pills with the same mechanism of action as GLP-1 injectable FDA-approved pills can help people manage weight, including:Alli (orlistat)ContraveQysmiaHowever, none of these medications work in the same way as Wegovy. There are no weight loss pills with the same mechanism of action as GLP-1 injectable I get a prescription for Wegovy online?Yes, it is possible for people to get a Wegovy prescription online. A range of telehealth companies will prescribe Wegovy after a person has a health consultation with a healthcare professional. The healthcare professional will only prescribe Wegovy if they think it is medically it is possible for people to get a Wegovy prescription online. A range of telehealth companies will prescribe Wegovy after a person has a health consultation with a healthcare professional. The healthcare professional will only prescribe Wegovy if they think it is medically there a Wegovy coupon?Yes, there is a Wegovy coupon. The manufacturer of the drug, Novo Nordisk, has a coupon through its support program, WeGoTogether. You can use it alongside your insurance, but you cannot use it with Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government health can help you save money on Wegovy and give you access to weight loss support more about Wegovy coupons, costs, and how to there is a Wegovy coupon. The manufacturer of the drug, Novo Nordisk, has a coupon through its support program, WeGoTogether. You can use it alongside your insurance, but you cannot use it with Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government health can help you save money on Wegovy and give you access to weight loss support more about Wegovy coupons, costs, and how to people are wondering how to get Wegovy as the drug increases in popularity and availability. Several online services, including PlushCare and Sesame Care, offer prescriptions for this medication. It is important to vet each online pharmacy carefully to ensure it offers a safe version of this drug.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
ASA cracks down on online pharmacies advertising weight loss injections
Online pharmacies are no longer allowed to run adverts for weight loss injections, the advertising watchdog has ruled, as part of a crackdown on what has been described as a 'wild west' culture of online selling. In the UK, advertising prescription-only medications (POMs) – which includes all weight loss jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro – to the public is illegal. However, a Guardian investigation previously found some online pharmacies either breaking these rules outright, or exploiting grey areas to peddle the medications to the public. Now the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has released nine new rulings that, it says, will set clear precedents for advertisers. The ASA said the new rulings meant that while pharmacies could continue to mention weight loss injections on their websites, provided they were not shown on homepages or landing pages from other links, adverts were banned from using the phrases 'weight loss injections' and 'weight loss pen', and the treatments must instead be marketed as part of a wider service, including a consultation and prescription. In addition, the ASA said that in the context of ads for weight loss treatments, ads could not feature images of medical injection pens, whether or not unbranded, images of a vial of liquid on the front, or contain links to landing pages where named POMs were promoted, or were the only available option. Experts say the ban on the advertising of POMs protects the public by preventing people from being exposed to undue commercial pressure, ensuring safe prescribing, and avoiding over-medicalisation of everyday concerns. 'Part of our overall strategy is protecting vulnerable people from harm, and nothing's so harmful as powerful prescription-only medicines,' said Nicky Morgan, chair of the ASA. The ASA had been investigating 13 advertisements relating to prescription-only weight loss medications, with the results from nine of these released today. They largely relate to ads flagged in a monitoring sweep during August and September 2024 by the ASA's active ad monitoring system, an AI-based approach that proactively searches for online ads that may break the rules. The ASA said its AI monitoring resulted in it processing 28m ads across all sectors in 2024, with 94% of those that were amended or withdrawn coming from the AI system. The regulator said its AI system would continue to search for problem ads, helping the body identify repeat offenders. It has already identified more than 20,000 ads from 35 high priority pharmacies between February and June this year, 10,000 of which were for weight loss treatments. While 80 of these ads were found to directly use or mention a weight loss drug name, most used imagery of weight loss pens, or strongly implied the use of weight loss POMs without naming the drug. The ASA said while there were many more potentially problematic ads for weight loss treatments in the public domain, those chosen for the recent investigations were representative of the issues at play in advertising. Among the adverts to fall foul of the ASA in the latest rulings were those promoting 'weight loss treatments' that directly linked to webpages where the only treatment options were POMs. 'Previously, you know, it was a bit of a grey area, they could essentially get away with putting a lot of things on a landing page, which just wouldn't be acceptable on a homepage. So I think that these rulings have plugged quite a significant gap there,' said Jess Tye, lead of the weight loss POM project at the ASA. The rulings also close the loophole by which pharmacies advertise a weight loss consultation – a permitted promotion – but link to landing pages for such services that only feature weight loss injections as possible treatments. 'It has to be that there is a genuine option, or options, which a professional would be working through with their patient, as opposed to some sort of token consultation, where both sides know what they're actually doing is ending up with a jab that is going to be mailed to them so that they can use,' Morgan said. Influencers have also been caught up in the new rulings: one upheld complaint was against an Instagram post by the TV personality Gemma Collins, who promoted the weight loss service Yazen. The ad was found to have promoted POMs because Collins referred to using a weight loss medication that is prescribed on the NHS, and because Yazen's website also featured links to three newspaper articles, with thumbnails that described how Collins had lost weight using Yazen's 'GLP-1 weight loss injections'. Morgan said the new rulings would set precedents and offer guidance to pharmacies, with further rulings expected to clarify the landscape further. The boom in weight loss jabs, and their promise not only to help people shed pounds but also to tackle a myriad other health conditions, has resulted in an explosion in online selling. The credibility of the drugs has been further enhanced by political approval. This week the health secretary, Wes Streeting, told LBC radio: 'Weight loss jabs are the talk of the House of Commons; half my colleagues are on them and are judging the rest of us, saying: 'You lot should be on them.'' But while Streeting plans to widen public access to the jabs, making them more broadly available on the NHS, many buy the medications through private prescriptions with online pharmacies, making their promotion a lucrative business. A key question remains whether the new rulings will correct much of the illegal selling, or whether advertisers will continue to break the rules – as some pharmacies have been doing. The ASA said pharmacies found to have breached advertising rules would be contacted and instructed to remove or edit their ad. Should a company fail to engage, the watchdog could take further action, such as working with platforms to have problem paid-ads taken down. The breaches can also be flagged to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which have the power to apply sanctions such as fines and court proceedings, in the case of the MHRA, or take action against the pharmacy, the pharmacy owner, the superintendent pharmacist, or all three in the case of the GPhC. However, while Morgan said compliance had been good, the rulings show that some of the online pharmacies did not respond to the ASA when their adverts were challenged. Dr Piotr Ozieranski, from the University of Bath, welcomed the new rulings, but said regulators must adopt a more adversarial attitude towards advertisers found breaking the rules, including graduated financial penalties that could be linked to company turnover or the scale or severity of patient risk. 'This would bring regulation more in line with the seriousness of the harms at stake – not just misleading advertising as such, but its possible consequences for patient safety, overmedicalisation, and mental health,' he said. Oksana Pyzik, an associate professor of pharmacy practice and policy at UCL School of Pharmacy, also called for stronger action. 'These rulings represent the bare minimum in addressing how weight loss POMs are being promoted in ways that blur the line between advertising health care services versus POMs,' she said, noting that companies continued to break the rules, with some even glamorising weight loss jabs through celebrity endorsements on social media.
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Farmasiet, Norway's largest online pharmacy, signs Agillic for advanced customer engagement
Press release – Copenhagen, 12 May 2025 – Agillic A/S The Norwegian online pharmacy, Farmasiet, signs Agillic for advanced customer engagement to explore untapped business potential. Farmasiet is Norway's largest online pharmacy, delivering thousands of both prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and commodities throughout Norway and with pharmacists available online for fast and convenient expert advice. Confident about the business value and potential of more advanced customer engagement, Farmasiet concluded they would need a new platform to deliver on their ambitions. The search was largely influenced by two key criteria: the technology should enable their advanced ideas, and they would need a European solution to ensure full compliance on data privacy and security. Farmasiet decided on Agillic and in just six weeks, they launched a tailored solution including eCommerce integration, advanced customer journeys, product feeds, mobile optimisation, and more. Hilde Andersen-Gott, CTO at Farmasiet, explains the choice of Agillic: 'We are convinced there is an untapped business potential and essentially chose Agillic because the platform enables us to execute on our ideas and capitalise on that potential – now and as we scale our ambitions further. Compliance was a given and with Agillic's flexibility, 'tailored' did not mean compromising on time to market.' Christian Samsø, CEO at Agillic, adds: 'We are quite proud of welcoming Farmasiet. They had set a high bar for how a platform should empower their ideas to deliver on the business potential, and our platform checked all the boxes from compliance to the ability to scale customer journeys.' For further information, please contact Christian Samsøe, CEO +45 24 88 24 24 [email protected] About Agillic A/S Agillic A/S (Nasdaq First North Growth Market Copenhagen: AGILC) is a Danish software company offering brands a platform through which they can work with data-driven insights and content to create, automate, and send personalised communication to millions. Agillic is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. For further information, please visit
