Patients turn to 'gray market' for cheaper obesity drugs, but it's risky

By Sydney Lupkin

Published October 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM CDT

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Patients who want a deeper discount on obesity meds than compounding pharmacies can offer are turning to the gray market, where they buy the raw active ingredient from China and prepare it themselves.

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Sydney Lupkin

Sydney Lupkin is the pharmaceuticals correspondent for NPR.

See stories by Sydney Lupkin

Patients turn to 'gray market' for cheaper obesity drugs, but it's risky

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