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Expert Opinion - The Undisclosed Risks of Off-brand Ozempic and Other Weight Loss Products

The popularity -- and price -- of brand-name injectable drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound has skyrocketed. But the soaring demand for these drugs -- used for weight loss as well as to control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart disease -- and the limited supply as well as lack of generic options has also led to a flood of non-brand alternatives in the market. In a recent article for The Conversation, UConn expert C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, issued a warning to consumers about the potential undisclosed risks of these off-brand products: High demand is driving GLP-1 wannabes The dietary supplement market has sought to cash in on the GLP-1 demand with pills, teas, extracts and all manner of other products that claim to produce similar effects as the brand names at a much lower price. Products containing the herb berberine offer only a few pounds of weight loss, while many dietary supplement weight loss products contain stimulants such as sibutramine and laxatives such as phenolphthalein, which increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer. The role of compounding pharmacies Unlike the dietary supplements that are masquerading as GLP-1 weight loss products, compounding pharmacies can create custom versions of products that contain the same active ingredients as the real thing for patients who cannot use either brand or generic products for some reason. These pharmacies can also produce alternative versions of brand-name drugs when official drug shortages exist. Since the demand for GLP-1 medications has far outpaced the supply, compounding pharmacies are legally producing a variety of different semaglutide and tirzepatide products. These products may come in versions that differ from the brand-name companies, such as vials of powder that must be dissolved in liquid, or as tablets or nasal sprays. Just like the brand-name drugs, you must have a valid prescription to receive them. The prices range from $250-$400 a month – still a steep price for many consumers. Compounding pharmacies must adhere to the FDA’s sterility and quality production methods, but these rules are not as rigorous for compounding pharmacies as those for commercial manufacturers of generic drugs. In addition, the products compounding pharmacies create do not have to be tested in humans for safety or effectiveness like brand-name products do. Proper dosing can also be challenging with compounded forms of the drugs. Companies that work the system For people who cannot afford a compounding pharmacy product, or cannot get a valid prescription for semaglutide or tirzepatide, opportunistic companies are stepping in to fill the void. These include “peptide companies,” manufacturers that create non-FDA approved knockoff versions of the drugs. From November 2023 to March 2024, my team carried out a study to assess which of these peptide companies are selling semaglutide or tirzepatide products. We scoured the internet looking for these peptide companies and collected information about what they were selling and their sales practices. We found that peptide sellers use a loophole to sell these drugs. On their websites, the companies state that their drugs are for “research purposes only” or “not for human consumption,” but they do nothing to verify that the buyers are researchers or that the product is going to a research facility. By reading the comments sections of the company websites and the targeted ads on social media, it becomes clear that both buyers and sellers understand the charade. Unlike compounding pharmacies, these peptide sellers do not provide the supplies you need to dissolve and inject the drug, provide no instructions, and will usually not answer questions. Peptide sellers, since they allegedly are not selling to consumers, do not require a valid prescription and will sell consumers whatever quantity of drug they wish to purchase. Even if a person has an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, the companies will happily sell them a semaglutide or tirzepatide product without a prescription. The average prices of these peptide products range from $181-$203 per month. Skirting regulations Peptide sellers do not have to adhere to the rules or regulations that drug manufacturers or compounding pharmacies do. Many companies state that their products are 99% pure, but an independent investigation of three companies’ products from August 2023 to March 2024 found that the purity of the products were far less than promised. One product contained endotoxin – a toxic substance produced by bacteria – suggesting that it was contaminated with microbes. In addition, the products’ promised dosages were off by up 29% to 39%. Poor purity can cause patients to experience fever, chills, nausea, skin irritation, infections and low blood pressure. In this study, some companies never even shipped the drug, telling the buyers they needed to pay an additional fee to have the product clear customs. If a consumer is harmed by a poor-quality product, it would be difficult to sue the seller, since the products specifically say they are “not for human consumption.” Ultimately, consumers are being led to spend money on products that may never arrive, could cause an infection, might not have the correct dose, and contain no instructions on how to safely use or store the product. Dr. C. Michael White is an expert in the areas of comparative effectiveness and preventing adverse events from drugs, devices, dietary supplements, and illicit substances. Dr. White is available to speak with media -- click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Ghoulish discovery: Exploring YouTube's role in the rise of belief in the paranormal

In recent years, YouTube has become an influential platform for various communities, notably for enthusiasts of the paranormal and ghosts. Paul Brewer, University of Delaware communication professor, set out to see how this happens and what we can learn from this in terms of how individuals perceive other messaging that may sit at the fringes of mainstream belief. During the 1990s, a big wave of research erupted on how media messages might influence people's belief in paranormal topics with popular television shows like “Alien Autopsy” and “Crossing Over with John Edwards.” A second wave of research occurred in the mid-2000s in response to cable television series such as “Ghost Hunters” and “Finding Big Foot.” Since then, the media landscape has evolved beyond traditional outlets like print, television and radio to include multimedia, such as YouTube, TikTok and other platforms. In his latest work, published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, Brewer looked beyond consuming paranormal television to include the use of social media, especially YouTube. “If you think about the paranormal, YouTube is a platform that seems like an especially plausible candidate to shape people's beliefs because seeing is believing—and it is a very visual storytelling medium,” said Brewer. "It’s not just a fun, kooky idea to study. About half the public believes in UFOs and almost half the public believes in ghosts and haunted houses, even though these phenomena aren't recognized by mainstream science." By way of example, Brewer pointed to a fictional documentary-style show that claimed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) knew about mermaids and was hiding evidence for them, including real video footage. The show included disclaimers, but viewers ignored them, revealing an important detail about the power of belief. Brewer is available to speak more broadly on the topic and his findings. He can be contacted by emailing mediarelations@udel.edu.

Repairing Boeing's relationship with the FAA

The Boeing Corporation is the recognized pioneer in aviation and aircraft manufacturing, but significant quality control concerns have mounted in light of near disasters associated with Boeing's planes, including notably the Alaska Airlines door flying off in January. David Primo, professor of political science and business administration at the University of Rochester, is available to tackle some of the regulatory, crisis management and reputational questions related to Boeing's safety and production problems, including regaining the trust of the Federal Aviation Administration: “The challenge Boeing faces is how do they rebuild safety, rebuild the relationship with the FAA, but keep the business going? And that’s a very tough balancing act. The FAA is going to give Boeing much less in the way of the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the design of planes, which could very much constrain its production system. So it’s going to mean that planes might take a little longer to get off the production line and into the hands of airlines."

Hurricane Milton: Second major storm in two weeks could multiply danger on Florida's Gulf Coast

Now a Category 5 hurricane, Milton is making a beeline toward Tampa Bay and other parts of Florida's western coast. But it will also hit some of the same areas that Hurricane Helene decimated less than two weeks ago, amplifying the danger and need for an on-point disaster response. Experts in the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center can talk about several facets of this developing situation: Jennifer Horney: The mental and physical impacts of multiple disasters; environmental impacts of disasters and potential public health impacts for chronic and infectious diseases. She can talk about both Milton and Helene – Horney is a native of North Carolina and has done fieldwork in the state. Victor Perez: Can talk about known environmental justice issues in the Gulf Coast region that interact with climate change impacts, like hurricanes. Sarah DeYoung: Conspiracy theories and misinformation during disasters; pets in emergencies, infant feeding in disasters, decision-making in evacuation and community cohesion. DeYoung is from western North Carolina and can draw parallels from Milton to Helene. Jennifer Trivedi: Can talk about long-term recovery after large scale events – including compounding events – as well as challenges during disasters for people with disabilities, vulnerable communities and decision making. Tricia Wachtendorf: Evacuation decision-making, disaster response and coordination, disaster relief (donations) and logistics, volunteer and emergent efforts, social vulnerability. James Kendra: Disaster response activities, volunteers, and emergency coordination. A.R. Siders: Expert on sea level rise and managed retreat – the concept of planned community movement away from coastlines and flood-prone areas and the "expanding bullseye" that is contributing to the rising disaster costs in the U.S. Shanjia Dong: Research looks at smart and resilient urban systems; infrastructure systems, critical infrastructure protection, effective disaster preparedness and response, and equitable resilience planning and climate change adaptation. Joe Trainor: Post-storm housing decisions and insurance.

DIY’ing Grief: How Modern Memorials Help Us Navigate the Death of Loved Ones

Americans really don't want to talk about it: Everyone dies, and everyone will experience the death of a loved one. Grief is a universal human experience – and a very challenging one – with its range of difficult emotions and processes. Baylor University researcher Candi Cann, Ph.D., has made it her life’s work to study death and dying. In fact, the associate professor of religion in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, is known as a “death scholar,” with media outlets ranging from NPR’s Science Friday to the Washington Post seeking her expertise about the impact of remembering (and forgetting) in shaping how lives are recalled, remembered and celebrated. Cann is the author of “Virtual Afterlives: Grieving the Dead in the Twenty-first Century,” and her research on modern grief has found that some Americans – in a move away from organized religion – have lost the grieving framework that prayer and Christian practices traditionally offered. She calls that framework the “syntax of grief” – the common language once rooted in religious practices – that has evolved over the generations, prompting people to seek more personal ways of expressing grief and memorialization customs. “This new language of mourning is being defined by the culture, rather than religious ritual,” Cann said. “And these new practices are emerging at the grassroots level in response to a popular need to express grief through more personal expressions in almost a do-it-yourself or DIY approach.” These DIY or modern remembrances – such as virtual memorials, tattoos and using cremains in creative ways – can help individuals navigate the grieving process. Virtual memorialization With contemporary grieving practices shifting from the physical to the online world, Cann said these virtual memorialization spaces, such as social media and memorial websites, are just as real and meaningful as physical spaces and can offer a shared space for more people to share in their grief. For example, Cann said funeral services have evolved to incorporate digital services such as a virtual memory page or guest book or live-streaming wakes. Social media profiles and websites are created as virtual locations for people to remember and mourn those who have died. “The internet can democratize grief. It allows people a way to have these conversations about the dead that they may not be able to do on an everyday basis,” Cann said. “You know, you’re at work and you’re grieving, but it’s not really an appropriate conversation. In this way, you can go online and leave a message and find a community of people who are also grieving with you.” Tattoos Tattoos have become a popular way for individuals, especially younger people, to carry their grief with them, Cann said. The inked images can function as a badge or emblem for the person, they tell stories, honor meaningful moments and allow people to carry their grief with them in both literal and virtual ways. "Tattoos allow people to occupy the space as a mourner, while also continuing to carry on with their everyday activities. Many people get tattoos to symbolize their first loss, like their grandparent or pet,” Cann said. “Though the body has disappeared, is remapped onto living flesh to become a symbol of mourning in a world where mourning is denied.” Use of cremains A growing trend is incorporating cremains (cremated remains) into various objects like tattoos, jewelry, records or even fireworks. This practice offers a portable and customizable way to keep a connection with the deceased, which is not an option with burials, Cann said. “Cremation has become much more widely accepted and much more widely practiced because it's cheaper, more economical, but also because of the options of what can be done with cremains in memorial,” Cann said. “Cremains are portable and divisible, so you can share them with other people. Plus, you can carry them in ways that disguise the fact that they are ashes, such as putting cremains in a locket.” The conversation These more personal expressions and do-it-yourself solutions to memorialize a death allow people to find places where they can feel and experience their grief more readily and move from the loss into a place of restoration, Cann said. While death is complete and universal, finding ways to grieve – from the traditional to the contemporary – helps process the loss, but it’s just as vital to have that difficult conversation about preparing for the death of loved ones. “I encourage everyone to have difficult conversations about death and discuss your wishes with your loved ones about what you want when you die,” Cann said. “Allowing death to be part of regular discussions can help your family and your friends deal with their sorrow when you die because the everyday practical matters of sorting through your estate or figuring out what you would have wanted are not compounding the grief. Talking about death is ultimately and way to show how much you love someone.” Looking to know more? We can help. If you're a journalist interested in speaking with Candi Cann, simply click on her icon now to arrange an interview today.

Multi-sector partnership leads to first practical pilot of vehicle-to-grid power

A multi-pronged effort led by corporations, industry associations and an academic research institution has launched the first practical pilot project of “vehicle-to-grid” power (V2G) set up so that industrial participants can scale it at low cost. Invented by the University of Delaware, V2G uses batteries in parked EVs to support the electric grid or to provide backup during power failures. This pilot is the first targeted toward large scale expansion, because it follows standards (by SAE and UL), uses production EVs (with UD modifications), complies with utility requirements, and qualifies for wholesale power markets. The pilot has been implemented by Delmarva Power (an Exelon Company), working with UD. The project has set up an electric utility fleet of EVs to begin providing power to balance the electric grid, using Ford Mach-E EVs in the Delmarva Power fleet, and following new rules of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for distributed energy resources. These Delmarva Power fleet vehicles are driving for utility operations during normal work schedule and provide wholesale grid services for PJM Interconnection when parked. The cooperative effort was organized by Prof. Willett Kempton, originator of the V2G concept. Kempton said the resulting demonstration is significant because it shows a cost-effective pathway for standards based, regulatory-compliant, mass-manufactured V2G. “Our close collaboration with Ford Motor, based on our joint Memorandum of Understanding, was very productive. Ford engineers’ advice helped us fully integrate the car’s CAN communications with LIN-CP,” Kempton said. “Ford already markets a production EV with home backup power, and they have a sophisticated understanding of potential EV synergies with the electric power grid. We hope that collaborations like this will also help OEMs like Ford to see a path to incorporation of these new standards and technologies into production EVs.” The new standard for V2G signal definitions were finalized and approved just this year thanks to UD Research Professor Rodney McGee, Task Force Chair of the SAE standards development for J3400 (NACS) and J3068. (SAE was formerly called Society of Automotive Engineers.) “These standards define the signaling to standardize low-cost AC charging, with all the functionality needed for safe operation of V2G and backup power from an EV. Both these standards implement a signaling method that is new to EV charging, called LIN-CP, yet is built from easy-to-implement automotive technologies,” McGee said. UD’s MOU with Ford Motor Company allowed the two parties to cooperate on implementing sophisticated signaling for low-cost, high-functionality V2G. UD designed a retrofit package for proof of concept. The design was led by UD Postdoc Garrett Ejzak and used a bidirectional on-board charger and the new LIN-CP commands to make the Mach-E capable of sophisticated V2G. After testing at UD, the design was installed in four Delmarva Power fleet Mach-Es, to test these systems in a real-world fleet operating environment. In addition to proving these new SAE standards, this project also shows that EVs can be high-value grid services providers to the electric system under the new FERC Order 2222 regulations. This new Federal rule enables small resources to collectively participate in electric markets to make the electric grid more reliable and more capable of incorporating fluctuating renewable power sources. PJM Interconnection, which manages the electric grid over 13 states, is participating under a Pilot Project agreement with the Delmarva Power demonstration, as an early proof of PJM’s new rules to meet FERC Order 2222 compliance. “The use of virtual power plants, such as aggregations of electric vehicles, is an emerging resource type that can contribute to managing the energy transition by providing flexibility and other services needed to reliably operate the power grid,” said Scott Baker, Sr. Business Solution Analyst – Applied Innovation for PJM. “We look forward to working with Delmarva Power and the project team to test the technical capabilities of V2G electric vehicles and understand how this use case integrates with PJM’s new market construct for virtual power plants and DER Aggregators.” Delmarva Power’s parent company, Exelon Corporation, is also a partner providing support for the project. Project partner Nuvve Holding Corporation (Nuvve) updated their charging stations for full LIN-CP and V2G capabilities. Then project partner Delmarva Power installed four Nuvve charging stations at their facility in Newark, Delaware. The four individual Mach-Es are virtually combined into one V2G “power plant” by aggregation software from Nuvve Holdings. Nuvve CEO Gregory Poilasne described this: “Our Nuvve charging stations now talk LIN-CP and implement the new SAE standards. This enables our GIVe aggregator software to tap high functionality V2G EVs,” Poilasne said. “By combining EVs as a single power resource, our technology is already serving as a “Distributed Energy Resource Aggregator” as specified by FERC Order 2222.” The EVs’ performance and provision of grid services will be monitored over the next year by UD and Nuvve to provide documentation on their use both as fleet vehicles and as grid resources.

Ask the Expert: Understand the latest on COVID-19 and mpox

As the university physician at Michigan State, Michael Brown advises the president and other leaders on major health policy or programs that impact life on campus or education abroad programs. He is also chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine in the MSU College of Human Medicine. Here, Brown shares the latest guidance about two viruses that are making news — COVID-19 and mpox, which was formerly called monkeypox. Is COVID-19 changing? COVID-19 will be with us for years to come. It seems to come and go in waves and now, it’s surging again across the United States. We’re seeing more cases, but the number of severe cases is much lower than the peaks we saw during the height of the pandemic. This is good news. Just a small fraction of the people who get COVID-19 actually become sick enough to go to the emergency department. We have to keep that in perspective. How can people stay healthy? The virus does mutate — that’s what viruses do — and a couple recent variants have become predominant. Ideally, the next vaccine will target the latest prevalent variants. I expect the Food and Drug Administration to release a new vaccine very soon, and I definitely will be in line to get one when it’s available. In fact, I highly encourage everyone to get a vaccine this fall. The effectiveness peaks about four weeks after you receive it and lasts at least four to six months — maybe longer. The people who are most protected are those who have had a bout of COVID-19, built up their immunity and received a vaccine. This combination is the best protection from getting an illness that’s severe enough to send you to the hospital. What symptoms are associated with this strain of COVID-19? The symptoms are much like what we’ve seen from COVID-19 in the past. It is an upper respiratory illness, so you may have a sore throat, congestion and a cough, but there can be other symptoms like headache. Some people experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Fever and muscle aches are also common. What if someone tests positive for COVID-19? False positives are very rare with COVID-19 tests so if you get a positive result, you should take care of yourself and protect those around you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you stay home and wear a mask around others. You should also treat your symptoms, stay hydrated and take acetaminophen for fever and muscle aches. After 24 hours of feeling better and being fever-free (with no acetaminophen), you can go out in public. It’s advised that you wear a mask for an additional five days to protect people who are vulnerable. And what about mpox? Mpox is a viral disease largely found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. The people there are accustomed to living with it. But it mutates, and we have seen a change in the disease patterns in the past few years. One of the new variants is more severe and is now spreading in the Congo region. It has become a critical situation there, but we have not seen the more severe variant here in the United States. Mpox is not as transmissible as COVID-19 because it requires close contact — usually intimate contact or other close physical proximity like sharing a towel. Symptoms include a rash that may start on the face or genital area along with fever and body aches. A vaccine is available, and an experimental drug can be prescribed as treatment. The World Health Organization has asked developed countries like the United States to assist with research to better understand the new variant. Looking to know more - we can help. Michael Brown is available to speak with media - simply connect with Dalin Clark now to arrange an interview today.

Criminal Charges and Springfield Ohio

More criminal charges have been filed against former President Donald Trump. A Haitian nonprofit group filed criminal charges against Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, regarding statements they recently made about immigration in Springfield, Ohio. They are being accused of villifying the Haitian community with their claims that immigrants are eating cats and dogs in the Springfield area.  Dr. Glen Duerr, political expert at Cedarville University, stated in a recent interview that rumors like these provide a way for politicians to keep a hot issue like immigration alive. Here are some key points from his interview: Trump and Vance have made various claims about the recent events in Springfield. However, are there grounds to proscecute them in a trial? The rumors circulating Springfield have made it a microcosm of the large-scale immigration conversation. Will anything change in Springfield moving forward? Trump has mentioned that he will visit Springfield in the near future. However, Springfield hads recently responded to multiple bomb threats that have resulted in universities going fully remote and evacuations of city buildings and public schools. Would his presence only fan the flames of the immigration uproar?  If you are a journalist looking to cover immigration and news coming out of Springfield, look to our experts for help.  Dr. Glen Duerr's research interests include comparative politics and international relations theory. Glen is an expert on this subject and is available to speak to media regarding this topic– simply click on his icon to arrange an interview or email mweinstein@cedarville.edu.

With dockworkers on the picket line - what can consumers expect as shipping dries up?

As port workers strike across the country, the shutdown at ports could have reverberating effects on consumers, the economy, and businesses. With consumers already facing higher prices, the strikes will likely cause more supply chain delays and price increases that will be passed on to consumers. There will be a lot of media attention surrounding the looming shortages, the implications for the economy, and how retailers will recover as workers and companies attempt to reach a negotiation. Steven Carnovale, Ph.D., associate professor of supply chain management and David Menachof, Ph.D., associate professor of supply chains and operations management, have the expertise in supply chain, global sourcing and production networks, logistics, and transportation to help reporters make sense of the various impacts this will have. Both experts are ready to help with your stories and contribute to your coverage. To connect with Steven Carnovale and David Menachof - click on their icons below. Photo credit: New York Times

MLB playoffs are back!

It's October ... and that means one thing in America:  Major League Baseball playoffs are set to begin. It means wall to wall broadcasts of games, massive advertising buys and gate receipts that means a serious stream of revenue for all of the teams, players and owners who made it through a long season and survived to be one of the dozen teams left to play for the Commissioner's Trophy. It's going to be a wild few weeks for baseball fans and the reporters covering the games. And if you're a journalist looking to know how important the marketing and business sides are to the the playoffs - then let us help with your stories. Kirk Wakefield, Ph.D., is The Edwin W. Streetman Professor of Retail Marketing at Baylor University, where he is the Executive Director of the Curb Center for Sales Strategy in Sports and Entertainment (S3E) program in the Hankamer School of Business. Kirk is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon ow to arrange an interview today.