Stung By High Prices, Americans Make Their Own Weight-Loss Drugs

A fast-growing group of Americans are turning to what many call the “gray market” for obesity medicines.

Buyers bring cheap active ingredients from China , often labeled as for research purposes.

Drugmakers Lilly and Novo Nordisk , which makes Wegovy , say trend is dangerous and illicit.

Unapproved drugs can have problems with sterility, purity, consistency, and consistency, expert says.

Lilly says it has taken steps to address patient safety risks posed by the proliferation of unsafe or untested tirzepatide.

Novo Nordisk says it continues to take action against entities that violate laws and regulations.

Gray-market buyer Marie , 41 , shows how do-it-yourself drugmakers are organizing.

She bought a compounding pharmacy’s version of tirzepatide, paying about $470 monthly , and had lost more than 20 pounds when the FDA announced the ban on compounded weight-loss drugs.

She joined a group of 52 other customers who paid a total of $ 1,020 to a Tennessee -based company.