WIRED explores how injectable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic have been in high demand, treating diabetes, obesity, and providing cardiovascular benefits. After shortages in 2022, compounding pharmacies and telehealth clinics began offering oral versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, claiming to deliver the same active ingredients without injections. However, these compounded versions have not been rigorously tested in clinical trials, and there is skepticism about their effectiveness.
