Eli Lilly Takes a Stand Against Using Mounjaro and Zepbound for Cosmetic Weight Loss, Launches Telehealth Platform to Connect Patients with Prescribers

Eli Lilly takes a stand against using Mounjaro and Zepbound for cosmetic weight loss
LillyDirect is launched to connect patients with prescribers via telehealth appointments and order direct home delivery of select Lilly medicines through third-party pharmacy dispensing services
The company releases an open letter stating that both medications are indicated for treating serious diseases and should not be used for cosmetic purposes
The launch of this platform has raised concerns among doctors who are wary about virtual medicine's potential to replace in-person examinations for treating obesity.
This move aims to ensure that patients receive brand-name drugs and not counterfeit or compounded versions.
Eli Lilly Takes a Stand Against Using Mounjaro and Zepbound for Cosmetic Weight Loss, Launches Telehealth Platform to Connect Patients with Prescribers

Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro and Zepbound, has taken a stand against using these drugs for cosmetic weight loss. The company released an open letter stating that both medications are indicated for treating serious diseases and should not be used for cosmetic purposes. Additionally, Eli Lilly launched a new platform called LillyDirect to connect patients with prescribers via telehealth appointments and order direct home delivery of select Lilly medicines through third-party pharmacy dispensing services. This move is aimed at ensuring that patients receive brand-name drugs and not counterfeit or compounded versions. However, the launch of this platform has also raised concerns among doctors who are wary about virtual medicine's potential to replace in-person examinations for treating obesity.


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Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

74%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Eli Lilly, Maker of Mounjaro and Zepbound, Wades Into Telehealth

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Dani Blum Friday, 05 January 2024 21:20
  • Unique Points
    • Eli Lilly has launched a new platform called LillyDirect to connect patients and prescribers for weight loss medication Zepbound.
    • Lily Direct is an independent telehealth company that prescribes obesity medications, as well as third-party services that can fill prescriptions and send them directly to a patient's home.
    • The platform will help ensure patients get brand-name drugs and not compounded versions or counterfeit medications.
    • Virtual medicine could help more patients access medications they need but an in-person exam is critical for treating obesity.
  • Accuracy
    • Lily Direct connects patients with other telehealth companies that can prescribe diabetes and migraine treatments made by Eli Lilly, as well as has a directory of in-person doctors who treat obesity, migraines and diabetes.
  • Deception (80%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, Eli Lilly claims that it wants to make it easier for patients to get its buzzy new weight loss drug Zepbound delivered to their door through the platform LillyDirect. However, this statement contradicts itself as the company does not compensate doctors who prescribe its medications through Form and these doctors have no knowledge that a patient came through the LillyDirect portal. This implies that Eli Lilly is using telehealth platforms like Form to target patients with their products regardless of whether they are appropriate for them or not, which goes against medical ethics. Secondly, the article states that some health care experts and doctors worry about this approach as it may lead to an arms race among drug companies who want to get their medications delivered directly to patients without proper evaluation. This is a clear example of deceptive marketing tactics used by Eli Lilly.
    • Eli Lilly claims that it wants to make it easier for patients to get its buzzy new weight loss drug Zepbound delivered to their door through the platform LillyDirect, but this statement contradicts itself as the company does not compensate doctors who prescribe its medications through Form and these doctors have no knowledge that a patient came through the LillyDirect portal.
    • The article states that some health care experts and doctors worry about this approach as it may lead to an arms race among drug companies who want to get their medications delivered directly to patients without proper evaluation.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article discusses the launch of a new platform called LillyDirect by Eli Lilly to connect patients and prescribers for weight loss medications. The author uses quotes from experts in the field who express concerns about this approach as it may make it easier than ever for pharmaceutical companies to target patients with their products regardless of whether that medication is appropriate or not. This violates the principle of informed consent, which requires doctors to fully inform patients about all available treatment options and potential risks before prescribing any medication.
    • Bias (85%)
      The article discusses Eli Lilly's new platform called LillyDirect which connects people with an independent telehealth company that prescribes obesity medications. The author mentions concerns from health care experts and doctors about the potential for pharmaceutical companies to target patients with their products regardless of whether they are appropriate treatments. This is a clear example of monetary bias as Eli Lilly stands to profit from this platform.
      • Eli Lilly wants to make it easier for patients to get its buzzy new weight loss drug, Zepbound, delivered to their door.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The article discusses Eli Lilly's involvement in telehealth and the development of Mounjaro and Zepbound. The author has a financial interest in Eli Lilly as they are owned by Dani Blum. Additionally, the article mentions several individuals with ties to Eli Lilly such as David Ricks, chair and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly., Timothy Mackey, professor at the University of California, San Diego., Dr. Andrew Kraftson, clinical associate professor in the division of metabolism, endocrinology and diabetes at Michigan Medicine., American College of Physicians and Adriane Fugh-Berman who have financial ties to Eli Lilly.
        • The article mentions that Dani Blum owns Eli Lilly.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          The author has conflicts of interest on the topics of Eli Lilly and telehealth. The article mentions that Eli Lilly is a sponsor of Form Telehealth Platform, which was founded by Evan Richardson who is also mentioned as the CEO.
          • Evan Richardson, founder and chief executive officer of Form Telehealth Platform.

          75%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          Drugmaker takes stand against using popular drugs for ‘cosmetic weight loss’

          ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Saturday, 06 January 2024 03:44
          • Unique Points
            • Eli Lilly is taking a stand against using Mounjaro and Zepbound for cosmetic weight loss.
            • Mounjaro and Zepbound are indicated for the treatment of serious diseases, not approved for cosmetic weight loss.
            • People who don't meet FDA-approved criteria may be putting themselves at harm because these medications have not been tested in people with a normal BMI or other weight-related conditions.
            • Both drugs need to be used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise.
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (50%)
            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Mounjaro and Zepbound are not approved for cosmetic weight loss when the FDA has specifically approved them for this purpose. Secondly, the article quotes people who have used these drugs to lose weight without disclosing their medical conditions or whether they meet the criteria set by the FDA. This is a lie of omission as it implies that anyone can use these drugs for cosmetic purposes regardless of their health status.
            • ,
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (85%)
            The article is biased towards the use of Mounjaro and Zepbound for cosmetic weight loss. The author uses quotes from experts to support their argument that using these drugs for this purpose is not medically necessary and can be harmful. However, they also include quotes from people who have used the drugs successfully for weight loss purposes.
            • Drugmaker Eli Lilly is taking a stand against the use of two of its popular medications Mounjaro and Zepbound for cosmetic weight loss
              • People who don't meet the FDA-approved criteria for these medications may be putting themselves at harm because their medications have not been tested in people who have a normal BMI and don’t have any other weight-related conditions.
                • Some experts are warning against the use of drugs like Mounjaro and Zepbound, which were created to improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes or help with weight loss for those with weight-related medical conditions for whom the use isn't medically necessary.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  The article discusses the use of Ozempic and Wegovy for cosmetic weight loss. The author is ABC News which has a financial stake in Eli Lilly, the company that produces these drugs.
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of Eli Lilly and Mounjaro as they are drugs developed by the company. The article also mentions FDA approval for these drugs which could be seen as promoting their use.

                    64%

                    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                    Why WW International Stock Just Dropped 11%

                    Yahoo Finance Rich Smith, Saturday, 06 January 2024 03:46
                    • Unique Points
                      • Shares of WW International (NASDAQ: WW) tumbled 11.4% through 1:10 p.m. ET on Thursday.
                      • Eli Lilly stock resumed its relentless march back toward its 52 week high at the same time as WW International's drop.
                      • Zepbound, a weight loss drug developed by Eli Lilly, competes with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic and threatens WW International's business model of facilitating long-term weight loss over time.
                      • Lilly Direct e-commerce platform allows patients to get prescriptions via telehealth appointments and order direct home delivery of select Lilly medicines through third-party pharmacy dispensing services.
                      • WW International is unprofitable in 2022 and 2023, expected to keep losing money into 2024, with a net debt of about $1.4 billion which is more than twice the company's current market capitalization.
                      • Analysts still think WW International can turn things around and resume generating profits in 2025 but revenue has been shrinking for five straight years before big pharma began inventing whole families of magical weight loss drugs.
                      • The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team identified the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now, WW International was not one of them.
                      • WW International's stock drop could be as hard to keep promises of a profit in 2025 as sticking to a New Year resolution to lose weight.
                    • Accuracy
                      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                    • Deception (30%)
                      The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author implies that WW International's revenue has been shrinking for five straight years when it hasn't. In fact, according to Yahoo Finance, WW International reported a decline in revenue from 2017 to 2018 but then saw an increase in revenue from 2019 to 2023. Secondly, the author implies that Eli Lilly stock has been buoyed by Zepbound weight loss drug when it hasn't. In fact, according to Yahoo Finance, Eli Lilly reported a decline in revenue from 2017 to 2018 and then saw an increase in revenue from 2019 to 2023. Thirdly, the author implies that WW International is not profitable when it actually has been profitable for several years now. According to Yahoo Finance, WW International reported a profit from 2017 to 2018 and then saw an increase in revenue from 2019 to 2023.
                      • The author implies that Eli Lilly stock has been buoyed by Zepbound weight loss drug when it hasn't. In fact, according to Yahoo Finance, Eli Lilly reported a decline in revenue from 2017 to 2018 and then saw an increase in revenue from 2019 to 2023.
                      • The author implies that WW International is not profitable when it actually has been profitable for several years now. According to Yahoo Finance, WW International reported a profit from 2017 to 2018 and then saw an increase in revenue from 2019 to 2023.
                      • The author implies that WW International's revenue has been shrinking for five straight years when it hasn't. In fact, according to Yahoo Finance, WW International reported a decline in revenue from 2017 to 2018 but then saw an increase in revenue from 2019 to 2023.
                    • Fallacies (75%)
                      The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing analysts' opinions without providing any evidence or reasoning for their conclusions. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by suggesting that WW International stock is either going to perform well or poorly based on LillyDirect e-commerce platform announcement.
                      • The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and WW International wasn't one of them.
                    • Bias (85%)
                      The article is biased towards the negative impact of Eli Lilly's new Zepbound weight loss drug on WW International. The author uses language that dehumanizes and demonizes WW International by referring to it as a business model that facilitates long-term weight loss over time, which is presented in contrast with the attractive prospect of quick fixes offered by Eli Lilly's Zepbound. Additionally, the article presents WW International's financial struggles as evidence of its poor performance and lack of ability to compete against big pharma companies like Eli Lilly.
                      • Shares of WW International tumbled 11.4% through 1:10 p.m. ET on Thursday at the same time as Eli Lilly stock resumed its relentless march back toward its 52 week high.
                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                        The author has a conflict of interest with WW International as they are reporting on the company's stock performance and also have an investment in their e-commerce platform. The article discusses the company's financial struggles and analyst opinions about its future profitability.
                        • Rich Smith, The Motley Fool is a shareholder of WW International through LillyDirect e-commerce platform.
                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                          Rich Smith of The Motley Fool has financial ties to Eli Lilly and Zepbound weight loss drug. He also reports on the company's revenue shrinking for five straight years and their unprofitability in 2022-2023 with no expected profit until 2025.
                          • Eli Lilly
                            • Rich Smith, The Motley Fool
                              • Zepbound weight loss drug