Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Pay-Per-Click Direct-To-Consumer Advertising

Over two years, $7.5 million was spent on pay-per-click (PPC) direct-to-consumer online advertising to promote semaglutide (Ozempic) in the US, with substantial spending targeting weight-loss keywords and competitor drug names, even though Ozempic is not FDA-approved for weight loss. Given that PPC advertising can influence consumer behavior, the FDA should issue guidelines on appropriate use of this advertising strategy or review PPC content to prevent misleading drug promotion.