Nestlé to Release Line for Ozempic Users

Nestlé said it will debut a line of $5 frozen pizzas and protein-fortified pastas in the U.S., called Vital Pursuit, tailored to people taking GLP-1 antagonist drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, reports Reuters. The maker added that it put more protein, iron, and calcium into the offerings for people taking the appetite-suppressing drugs.

The products are set to hit shelves in October, priced marginally higher than its standard offerings. For example, Nestlé brand DiGiorno’s four cheese personal pan pizza is sold at Target for $4.79, twenty cents cheaper than the Vital Pursuit offering, according to the report.

The report found the global brand began developing GLP-1 drug companion products last year. 

Company executives see the medications as an opportunity to pitch products tailored to these diets. The drugs are prevalent in the U.S.: 12.5 percent of U.S. adults have already taken GLP-1 drugs, and Goldman Sachs estimates that 10 million to 70 million U.S. consumers may use them in the next four years.

People on GLP-1 medications are at risk of losing lean muscle mass as they shed pounds and often don’t feel like eating very much, said Ethan Lazarus, an obesity doctor in Colorado.

“There’s definitely a need to make sure people get adequate protein,” said Lazarus, who once served on the advisory board for Nestlé’s medical arm Nestlé Health Sciences. Full Story (Subscription Required)