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

By Sydney Lupkin

Published October 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM EDT

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.

Sydney Lupkin

Sydney Lupkin is the pharmaceuticals correspondent for NPR.

See stories by Sydney Lupkin

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