Summary
Sponsored search results often show Ozempic, a drug not approved for weight loss, when people search for weight-related terms. Drug companies pay search engines to highlight their products, bypassing stricter regulations applied to TV or magazine ads. Researchers found that this can lead to potentially misleading information being displayed online.
Key Facts
- Ozempic is officially approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, not weight loss.
- Companies use sponsored search results to appear at the top of online searches.
- Sponsored search results are not regulated like traditional drug ads.
- In a study, 11% of search terms used for Ozempic ads included 'weight.'
- Novo Nordisk also sponsored searches related to competitors like Trulicity.
- The study suggests consumers should seek independent medical sources online.
- The U.S. allows direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs.
- The Trump administration asked the FDA to tighten its drug advertising rules.
