George Frey | ReutersDrugmakers aren't the only ones feeling the impact of the weight loss industry gold rush. Retailers with pharmacy businesses, such as Walmart , Kroger and Rite Aid , said increased demand for prescription weight loss drugs helped boost sales for the second quarter. Are weight loss drugs profitable? A selection of injector pens for the Saxenda weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 31, 2023. For one, branded drugs don't directly compete with other medications because they have patent protections.

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Persons: George Frey, Reuters Drugmakers, Arun Sundaram, it's, Elon Musk, Eli Lilly, Doug McMillon, Matthew Schroeder, Schroeder, Rodney McMullen, CFRA Research's Sundaram, Michael Lasser, Jim Vondruska, USC's Schaeffer Organizations: KR NOVO.B, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy, Reuters, Walmart, Kroger, Rite, CFRA Research, CNBC, Nordisk, Elon, Pfizer, UBS, USC's, USC's Schaeffer Center for Health, Association Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S, GLP, Chicago , Illinois