Your weekly cure

Forget your coffee—today’s health news is enough to jolt you awake. We’ve got corporate drama in the weight-loss world, a legendary athlete changing the game, and a startup that thinks your bed should be smarter than you are. Let’s dive in.

1. Novo Nordisk’s Corporate Diet Plan

Turns out, even the company behind the world’s most famous weight-loss drug isn’t immune to needing to trim the fat. Novo Nordisk, after a hiring binge (from 43k to 77k employees since 2019!) fueled by Wegovy’s blockbuster success, is now implementing a hiring freeze and preparing for layoffs.

Why the belt-tightening? Soaring operational costs—nearly $10 billion in salaries alone—combined with fierce competition from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound are forcing a reality check. While demand for GLP-1 drugs remains strong, the breakneck expansion phase is slowing. Supply constraints and payer pushback on high prices are also cooling the market’s initial euphoria.

The bottom line: Even blockbuster drugs can’t defy corporate gravity. This signals a new, more competitive chapter in the GLP-1 revolution.

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2. Serena’s Powerful Endorsement

Tennis GOAT Serena Williams is stepping off the court and into the telehealth arena. She’s now a strategic advisor and partner at Ro, the direct-to-patient healthcare company, and will prominently advocate for GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound.

In a heartfelt move, Williams shared her own story of using these medications to reclaim her health and routine after the challenges of postpartum recovery. She’s aiming to smash the lingering stigma that frames weight-loss drugs as “shortcuts” or tools for vanity, instead reframing them as legitimate, doctor-supervised tools for health.

Why it matters: Celebrity endorsements are common, but this is different. Williams’ credibility and vast influence have the power to normalize medical weight management for millions, potentially encouraging open conversations between patients and doctors.

3. Because Your Mattress Isn’t Expensive Enough

Want an AI to tuck you in? Sleep tech startup Eight Sleep just raised a massive $100 million Series D round, led by existing investor Menora Ventures, with participation from celebrities like Kevin Hart and Alex Rodriguez. The company’s valuation has now soared to $840 million.

So, what does $100 million buy? The company is doubling down on its AI “Sleep Agent,” a new feature that learns your patterns and automatically adjusts bed temperature and other settings throughout the night. A chunk of the funding will also go toward seeking FDA clearance for their technology as a potential medical device for managing sleep apnea and menopause-related sleep disruptions.

Their flagship product, the Pod Cover (a smart mattress topper that heats, cools, and tracks sleep), already has a cult following among biohackers and tech elites—despite its $2,500-$3,000 price tag. With this new war chest, Eight Sleep is planning a major retail and international expansion.

The bottom line: Sleep is the final frontier of quantified self. Silicon Valley is betting we’ll all soon demand a data-optimized, AI-powered night’s rest.

Your Weekly Dose of Insight

From boardroom shakeups to Serena’s health advocacy and AI-powered sleep, the wellness world keeps proving one thing: nature meets innovation in unexpected ways. Stay tuned, stay curious, and remember—sometimes the best cure is knowing what’s happening around you.

— Nature The Cure