Ahead of Oscars, maker of blockbuster weight loss drug urges against ‘vanity' use in new ad campaign

When the Academy Awards took place last year, a joke made by host Jimmy Kimmel highlighted the use of a type 2 diabetes drug called Ozempic by celebrities to lose weight. It had caused both backlash and fascination. As this year’s Oscars approach, the maker of a competing drug has launched an ad campaign discouraging the use of these medications for cosmetic weight loss. The drugmaker believes these drugs were designed for individuals with serious health conditions related to obesity. The ad emphasizes that access to these drugs should be provided to those who genuinely need them. The drugs in question are part of a class known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which reduce appetite and affect insulin secretion. They have been approved for diabetes and chronic weight management, based on guidelines related to body mass index. The drugmaker wants to prioritize the availability of these drugs for those who clinically require them and are genuinely in need.