Consumer News: Compounded GLP-1 weight-loss drug recalled over sterility concerns

The drug contains a newly developed active ingredient

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Novo Nordisks experimental CagriSema produced an estimated 25% average weight loss in women at 68 weeks, assuming continued treatment.

• A separate analysis found substantial weight loss before, during and after menopause.

• The once-weekly injection remains under FDA review, with a decision expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Drugs treating obesity appear to be the new frontier in the pharmaceutical industry.

Novo Nordisk reports its investigational obesity drug CagriSema helped women lose an estimated quarter of their body weight over 68 weeks in a new analysis of its REDEFINE 1 clinical trial.

The analysis included 2,309 women across treatment groups. Estimated weight loss was 25% with CagriSema versus 3% with placebo. For someone starting at 220 pounds, a 25% reduction would equal 55 pounds.

The findings, presented at The Menopause Societys annual meeting, assume participants continued treatment without using other weight-loss therapies. They are exploratory results from an existing trial.

Building on semaglutide

CagriSema combines semaglutide, the ingredient in Wegovy, with cagrilintide, an investigational amylin analog. The original trial enrolled 3,417 adults without diabetes and tested the medications alongside lifestyle changes.

Across women and men, average weight loss was 20.4% when researchers included results regardless of treatment adherence, according to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. That broader result should be distinguished from the new women-only estimate.

In the menopause analysis, estimated losses were 26.7% before menopause, 24.8% during perimenopause and 23.1% after menopause. Researchers assigned menopause categories retrospectively; the findings do not establish that reproductive stage caused the differences.

Side effects

Side effects remain part of the treatment picture. In the overall trial, gastrointestinal problems affected 79.6% of CagriSema recipients versus 39.9% receiving placebo. These included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain, and were generally temporary and mild to moderate.

CagriSema is not FDA-approved. Novo submitted its application in December 2025.

The drug has passed important regulatory milestones

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Loyals experimental daily pill, LOY-002, has cleared two major FDA review requirements on its path toward conditional approval.

• The drug is intended for dogs at least 10 years old weighing 14 pounds or more, with the goal of extending healthy life.

• Manufacturing review remains unfinished, and a large clinical trial is still testing whether treated dogs actually live longer.

For dog owners wishing for more time with an aging companion, an experimental daily pill is moving closer to becoming a veterinary treatment.

Loyal, a veterinary biotechnology company, is developing LOY-002 to extend the healthy lifespan of older dogs. According to the companys current regulatory updates, the FDA has accepted its safety submission and the evidence supporting a reasonable expectation that the drug will work. Manufacturing requirements remain in progress before the company can secure conditional approval.

The treatment is not yet available for veterinarians to prescribe, and approval is not guaranteed.

How the pill is intended to work

LOY-002 targets metabolic changes associated with aging. Loyal says the treatment aims to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce elevated insulin levels, helping address processes associated with declining health in older dogs.

The intended patients are dogs at least 10 years old that weigh at least 14 pounds. The companys goal is to help them remain healthier longer while extending lifespan.

That goal remains under investigation. An FDA finding of a reasonable expectation of effectiveness does not establish how much additional time the pill might give an individual dog.

What conditional approval would mean

The distinction between conditional and full approval matters for pet owners.

The FDA says conditional approval requires the same safety standards as full approval, but a lower initial threshold for evidence of effectiveness. It allows an animal drug to be sold while the manufacturer gathers the additional evidence needed for full approval.

Conditional approval initially lasts one year and can be renewed annually for a total of up to five years, provided the company demonstrates progress toward completing the effectiveness requirements.

For LOY-002, that means a future conditional approval could allow veterinarians to prescribe the pill while the longer lifespan study continues.

The study that will test the promise

Loyals STAY trial has enrolled more than 1,300 dogs across 70 veterinary practices nationwide. It compares dogs receiving LOY-002 with those receiving a placebo, tracking lifespan, health and quality of life.

The study is double-blind, meaning owners and investigators do not know which treatment each dog receives. Participation can last up to four years, and enrollment is complete.

On safety, Loyal says its submission included testing at the intended dose and at three and five times that dose, with no clinically significant adverse events observed in that standard safety study. The company also supplied field safety information from 400 senior companion dogs.

Those findings support continued development, but they do not mean every dog would tolerate treatment without problems.

For owners, the central unanswered question is how much longerand how much healthiertreated dogs will live. The ongoing trial is designed to supply that answer.

Septembers decline signals a weaker pipeline of completed sales heading into late fall

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Pending home sales fell 7.3% in September and were 11.3% below their level a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors.

• Every major U.S. region recorded monthly and annual declines, with the West experiencing the steepest losses.

• Rising mortgage rates are squeezing buyers purchasing power, while relatively few distressed properties are helping keep home prices steady.

The housing market continued to lose momentum in September as rising borrowing costs made it harder for Americans to buy a home at current prices.

The National Association of Realtors reports that pending home sales fell 7.3% from August and 11.3% from September 2025.

Market conditions weakened in September due to fast-rising mortgage rates, said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. He said changes in mortgage rates have a greater effect on affordability than the support provided by job growth and income gains.

For buyers who need financing, higher rates mean a larger monthly payment for the same loan amount. That can force households to lower their price range, increase their down payment or postpone a purchase.

Nationwide declines

The slowdown extended across the country. In the West, pending sales dropped 9.2% from August and 15% from a year earlier. The South recorded declines of 8.2% for the month and 12% annually.

Contract signings in the Midwest fell 6.5% from August and 8.7% from September 2025. The Northeast had the smallest declines, but activity still decreased 4.2% monthly and 9.4% annually.

Yun suggested mortgage rates could be nearing a peak, although rising energy costs and inflation leave the outlook uncertain. He said the limited number of distressed properties is helping maintain steady prices despite weaker demand.

Difficult combination

That leaves buyers facing a difficult combination: fewer competing purchasers may improve their negotiating position, but financing costs can still put a home beyond their budget. A sellers price reduction does not necessarily offset the added monthly expense of a higher mortgage rate.

Pending sales track signed contracts for existing single-family homes, condominiums and co-ops. They generally lead completed sales by one or two months, so Septembers pullback suggests a weaker pipeline of closings heading into late fall. Some contracts may also encounter financing, inspection or appraisal problems before closing.

From Scrub Daddy to Bombas and Ring, some of TV's biggest success stories offer surprising lessons for everyday shoppers

• Big business: Scrub Daddy has reportedly generated more than $2.9 billion in sales, while Bombas has surpassed $2.5 billion.

• Not every winner got a deal: Ring and Kodiak Cakes became major success stories despite leaving Shark Tank without an investment.

• Popularity doesn't guarantee value: Comparing alternatives, checking price histories, and avoiding unnecessary extras can help you save.

Who knew a smiling sponge could become a multibillion-dollar business? Or that a company selling socks could make billions while giving away millions of pairs?

A new Entertainment Weekly ranking looks at 20 of the biggest success stories from Shark Tank, including Scrub Daddy, Bombas, Ring, and Squatty Potty.

Some made their investors very rich, while others were rejected by the sharks but yet still went on to become household names.

But here's a question the TV show doesn't always answer: Are these products actually worth your money?

Let's look at seven popular Shark Tank success stories and the shopping lessons they offer.

1. Scrub Daddy: Don't pay extra for a famous face

The smiley-faced sponge has reportedly generated more than $2.9 billion in sales. Its big selling point? The material becomes firmer in cold water and softer in warm water.

Shopping tip: Before paying a premium, compare Scrub Daddy (and Scrub Mommy) with those ordinary scrub sponges. The handy holes in the sponge isnt a proprietary feature and many others have the same, making them easy to clean large utensils. The takeaway here is if you mainly need something to wipe down counters or do basic dish washing, a cheaper sponge will often do the job just fine.

2. Bombas: Think beyond the price tag

Bombas built a massive sock business around comfort and its buy-one, donate-one model.

The company has reportedly surpassed $2.5 billion in sales.

Shopping tip: Bombas socks aren't cheap, so don't assume the higher price means they'll last longer. Be sure to compare the materials, cushioning and warranty with less expensive brands.

Also, before buying a multipack, try a single pair to see whether the comfort and fit justify the extra cost of the bulk buy.

3. Ring: Watch out for the subscription

In what has become one of the biggest passes in Shark Tanks history, Ring's founder famously left the show without a deal. Then, in 2018, Amazon swooped in and bought the company for approximately $1 billion.

Today, video doorbells seem to be everywhere and come with many different features and price points.

Shopping tip: Don't look at just the price tag on the camera. The more important factor is to check whether you'll need a paid subscription for recorded video, extended storage, or any other features.

Run the math. A $100 doorbell with a hypothetical $5 monthly subscription costs $280 over three years, before taxes or other add-on expenses. Then take that number and compare it with competitors who offer local storage via a mini SD card with no subscription required.

4. Stasher Bags: Do the break-even math

These reusable silicone food-storage bags became successful enough that SC Johnson acquired the brand in 2019. They're designed to replace disposable plastic bags.

Shopping tip: Figure out how many uses it takes to recover the higher upfront cost. For example, a $12 reusable bag would need 120 uses to match the cost of disposable bags priced at 10 cents each. And remember, reusable doesn't automatically mean cheaper if you rarely use it.

5. Kodiak Cakes: Compare the nutrition label, not the hype

Kodiak Cakes became a major success even though the founders didn't accept a deal from the sharks.

As protein has become a popular trend in light of GLP-1 drugs, their protein-focused pancake mixes also gathered momentum and catapulted the brand.

Shopping tip: Compare protein, fiber, added sugar, and cost per serving with less expensive pancake mixes. Sometimes adding an egg or serving pancakes with Greek yogurt can help you meet your protein goals without paying extra for a specialty mix.

6. Squatty Potty: Try the inexpensive alternative first

The Squatty Potty is a footstool designed to make bathroom visits easier, and it became one of the show's most memorable products.

Shopping tip: Before buying a specialty bathroom stool, its smart to consider whether a sturdy, appropriately sized footstool could provide a similar position for you when youre sitting on the pot.

Just make sure it's stable and doesn't create a slipping hazard of any kind. You may not need a branded product to get the same basic functionality.

7. Drop Stop: Solve the problem without overspending

Drop Stop keeps phones, keys, and other belongings from disappearing between your car seats. The company has reportedly exceeded $100 million in cumulative sales.

Shopping tip: Instead of automatically buying the name-brand, compare it with universal seat-gap fillers that have flooded the market. Pay close attention to fit and whether they interfere with your seat belts or how your seats slide forward or backwards.

Its a fairly simple product that solves an everyday annoyance. And while it can be a worthwhile purchase, the famous brand isn't your only option.

One final warning: Beware of fake Shark Tank endorsements

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that scammers use fake Shark Tank endorsements to promote questionable products.

Before buying something advertised as "Shark-approved," verify that it actually appeared on the show and research the seller independently.