Eli Lilly just dropped their Q3 2025 earnings, and it’s clear the GLP-1 era has entered a new phase. Lilly now controls 6 out of 10 GLP-1 prescriptions in the U.S., driven by massive demand for Zepbound, Mounjaro, and soon Orforglipron, the first oral GLP-1 pill for obesity that could hit the market as early as 2026. In this episode of On The Pen, we break down the key takeaways from Lilly’s call: • Zepbound’s meteoric growth and how 40% of new prescriptions now flow through Lilly Direct • Orforglipron’s global submissions for obesity and type 2 diabetes with a possible priority FDA review that could mean approval in as little as 1 to 2 months • Retatrutide’s next trials for obesity and osteoarthritis pain • What Dave Ricks really meant when he said a $100 GLP-1 pill would “stifle innovation” • The growing tension between innovation and affordability in obesity medicine This isn’t just a numbers story. It’s about access, cost, and the fight for who gets to afford staying healthy.

This Week Dave breaks down: The UK’s massive MHRA raid on a counterfeit GLP-1 operation and what it reveals about access gaps driving patients to unsafe sources. Why Cigna’s promise to help patients sent their stock soaring and how PBMs like Express Scripts profit while pretending to reform. Innovent’s Mazdutide showing stronger weight loss than semaglutide and what that means for global obesity drug innovation. Terns Pharmaceuticals scaling back its metabolic programs after modest GLP-1 results, proof of how hard it is for small biotech to survive this race. New Lancet data confirming semaglutide’s heart protection, even without diabetes. Whistleblower allegations from Washington State involving Aequita Pharmacy and Mochi Health, claims that raise new questions about compounding safety. Ro’s RAID-FN Food Noise scale, the first scientifically validated tool to measure something patients have felt for years but science couldn’t define.

On The Pen brings you 7 short interviews with a who's who in Obesity Care from HLTH 2025 in Las Vegas! From microdosing glp-1peptides to longevity peptides, some of the most exciting faces in the space share their insights!

Joining me today is Max Beyer, pharma reporter at Endpoints News and one of the sharpest voices covering pharma policy, pricing, and the biotech world. If you’ve seen the viral clip from Trump’s press event where he promised to drop the price of the so-called ‘fat shot’ to $150, that moment started with Max’s question. His work at Endpoints has been ahead of the curve on everything from Most Favored Nation drug pricing to the political tug-of-war that’s shaping the future of GLP-1 access in America. Max isn’t just writing about the drug industry, he’s talking to the people moving it, and today, we get to hear what it was like to be in the room when a single question shook the global obesity market.

In this episode: What the FDA warning really means for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound users Why an OAI classification matters — and how it could affect GLP-1 access How the FDA oversight system protects patients (and where it fails) Why compounded GLP-1 medications exist in the first place The bigger picture: access, safety, and patient rights

This episode of *On The Pen* dives into three major developments shaping obesity care: Fractyl Health’s groundbreaking GLP-1 + GIP gene therapy, Dr. Mehmet Oz’s hints about potential Medicare coverage for GLP-1s, and the federal court ruling on retatrutide that could redefine compounded access. Together, these stories reveal how science, policy, and regulation are colliding to decide the future of obesity treatment.

joins Dave to discuss what it's like to publicly battle weight and addiction, and find peace in front of a watching world.

NFL lineman, Ike Boetgger, joins Dave as his first "in-studio" guest to discuss the power of individualized medicine en route achieving his healthiest version of himself.

This week, Dave knapp interviews Fractyl, CEO, Harith Rajagopalan and discusses a new treatment that may allow patients to maintain their weight loss post GLP-1.

Christopher Lafron AKA Airsoft Fatty talks about his weight loss and shares his takes on obesity. (Language warning) Dr. Leslie Golden shares her obesity journey from her perspective as a physician and talks obesity medicine advocacy. Ali from Fit Flavor Fun shares tips for newbies on GLP-1 meds!

Pfizer buys Metsera, and Dave covers the compound Tirzepatide threat landscape

Last week, Dr. Robin Pashby’s viral presentation “What We Carry” lit up the obesity and GLP-1 community. If you missed it, go watch that talk first — it’s one of the most powerful pieces on living with obesity you’ll ever see. This is my in-depth interview with Dr. Pashby, where we dig deeper into the stories behind “What We Carry.” She opens up about the scale’s power, the rules we live by, the “fire escape” moments we all carry, and what it truly means to separate weight from worth. If her viral talk hit you in the heart, this conversation will help you process it, personalize it, and maybe even begin to let go of some of that hidden weight.

Dave covers the week's news in GLP-1

🚨 FDA cracks down on compounded GLP-1 medications, raising questions about the future safety, quality, supply, and cost. In this episode of On The Pen Live, we break down what the FDA’s new “green list” means for patients relying on compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, including risks like dosing errors, unapproved salt forms, and hospitalizations. We also cover two massive research moves shaking up the future of obesity and diabetes care: ✅ Novo Nordisk + Novonesis team up on gut microbiome therapies, using probiotics and prebiotics (synbiotics) to prevent obesity and improve blood sugar and cholesterol. ✅ Eli Lilly + Remedium Bio launch a gene therapy partnership that could replace weekly GLP-1 injections with a single, long-acting shot. PLUS: An exclusive interview with Alicia, cofounder of Claimable, about the class action lawsuit against CVS Caremark for forcing patients to switch from Zepbound to Wegovy. We talk timelines, how to get involved, and what it means for patient choice in obesity treatment.

This episode of On The Pen: The Weekly Dose Podcast breaks down four major stories in obesity medicine: the FDA’s approval of Teva’s so-called “generic” Saxenda at a sky-high price, Wegovy’s accelerated approval in MASH, Novo Nordisk’s headline-grabbing but shaky 57% cardiovascular benefit claim, and Eli Lilly’s decision to scrap its oral GLP-1 naperiglipron. We cut through the spin to ask what these developments really mean for patients fighting for access and better treatment options.

Sabina from GLPwinner.com who was in attendance yesterday, sits down in an exclusive OTP interview to discuss yesterday’s s hearing between Eli Lilly and Mochi health.

In Today's live Podcast, Dave covers the latest breaking news in Obesity Medicine, including fresh data on an oral #GLP1 that we have been following for years from #VikingTherapeutics Learn more about he #VikingTide pill!

GLP-1 microdosing is one of the hottest and most controversial topics in obesity medicine right now. Can lowering your dose instead of quitting completely help you keep the weight off? In this exclusive interview, Noom CEO Geoff Cook responds to questions about microdosing, GLP-1 off-ramping, and how Noom supports patients using medications like Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Ozempic.

Zepbound now leads two-thirds of the U.S. obesity market—and that’s just the beginning. In this video, we break down the biggest headlines from Eli Lilly’s latest earnings call, including: ✅ Over 1 million Zepbound vials prescribed in Q2 ✅ New Phase 3 tirzepatide trial for type 1 diabetes ✅ 39% reduction in all-cause mortality (MACE-3) ✅ Orforglipron data and pricing strategy revealed ✅ Retatrutide and the future of complex obesity care ✅ Employer coverage shifts and LillyDirect updates ✅ The real reason behind Lilly’s compounding crackdown ✅ How Canadian generics might replace U.S. compounders 🎯 Whether you’re on GLP-1 meds or just trying to get answers in a system that keeps moving the goalposts, this episode is for you.