Elon Musk’s Weight Loss Secret Shakes Up Pharma Giants

Elon Musk just dropped a weight loss bomb. The Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and SpaceX CEO took to social media to reveal that he uses Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) Mounjaro, calling himself Ozempic Santa in a tongue-in-cheek post. Musk’s approval highlights soaring demand for GLP-1 inhibitors, drugs originally intended for diabetes but now the hottest ticket in weight-loss treatments. Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) and Lilly lead the pack with annual sales in the category expected to hit $150 billion by 2033. But here’s the twist: a growing wave of cheaper, licensed copycats from countries like Bangladesh and Russia could shake things up up for these pharma giants.

Last week, a Reuters investigation revealed a rising wave of semaglutide and tirzepatid cut-offs hitting markets with looser patent rules. These generic drugs are no joke price as low as $3 per month in Bangladesh, compared to $935.77 in the United States. That’s a huge difference, and it’s not just a niche issue. With patents expiring in places like China and India in 2026, the clock is ticking for Novo and Lilly to defend their turf. While demand currently outstrips supply, experts warn that growing competition could push prices down faster than expected, especially in emerging markets.

For investors, this market is a double-edged sword. The growth story here is undeniable that global obesity rates mean unprecedented demand, but margin pressure from cheap generics cannot be ignored. Novo and Lilly ramp up production to maintain their lead, but the game is changing fast. With over a billion people globally classified as obese, this is not just about profit, but about being at the forefront of a market that is redefining the future of healthcare and potentially your portfolio.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.