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New obesity drugs are coming. Here's how they could change everything

A steady stream of weight loss drugs, which mimic naturally occurring hormones, are in the pipeline. This competition may finally lead to lower prices and greater supplies of these highly effective drugs, and maybe replace some injectables with pills... The rapid pace of approvals for this new drug class has led to a dizzying list of names that can be difficult to track. A major reason for the confusion is that the FDA approves the same chemical drug for different conditions, and companies give different brand names to the drug based on the condition it treats. Many people have heard of Ozempic, the brand name for semaglutide, which is approved for type 2 diabetes. That same compound, semaglutide,…

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 Drugs that melt away pounds still present more questions than answers, but Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro could be key tools in reducing the obesity epidemic

Given the gravity of the obesity epidemic and the health costs that come with it, I believe the potential risks of using these drugs for weight loss may be worth the reward of lessening the burden on the health care system and improving the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people.

 Supplements claiming to work like Ozempic and Wegovy are now being sold – here’s what the evidence actually says about these products

As with many popular and effective products, this has led to a number of products which claim to work like GLP-1 being advertised and sold – including a raft of “GLP-1 supplements”. But despite what these supplements claim, they are not in anyway similar to Ozempic and Wegovy. Any benefits they might have will be minimal – and the side-effects they come with are probably not worth the fuss.

Articles of Interest

Comparison GLP-1 Drugs

Schematic image comparing most of the GLP-1 drugs...

Buyer beware: Off-brand Ozempic, Zepbound and other weight loss products carry undisclosed risks for consumers

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.

FDA Warns People Not to Use Off-Brand Versions of Ozempic and Wegovy

Agency officials said this week that they have received reports of problems after patients used versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the brand-name medications, which have been compounded, or mixed in pharmacies. Officials didn’t say what the problems were.

Inside the dangerous Ozempic and Wegovy black market, where people are buying the controversial drugs for ‘vanity’ weight loss

The world of weight loss can be a toxic, all-consuming place.

Ozempic, Trulicity, and More: 10 GLP-1 Drugs and How to Navigate Your Options

Ozempic, Trulicity, and Victoza: these Type 2 diabetes medications have been growing in popularity over the last several years. And they all belong to the same class — glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 drugs work by triggering insulin release, reducing glucose (sugar) production in your liver, and making you feel full.

Patients Cut Off From Cheaper Obesity Drugs as the F.D.A. Halts Sales of Copycats

U.S. regulators are trying to shut down the industry for compounded weight-loss drugs, which could result in higher costs or suspend treatment for patients.

Stopping Ozempic or Wegovy? A dietitian explains how to keep the weight off

Can't keep taking GLP-1 agonists due to cost or side effects? A dietitian shares a five tips to avoid weight gain.

The pregnancy risks of Ozempic and Wegovy need more attention

The drugs are linked to birth defects in animal studies. Why is this information so hard to find?

The unintended side effects of popular weight loss drugs

You’ve probably heard a lot about Ozempic and Wegovy, the semaglutide wonder drugs for weight loss. Their newfound popularity with prescribers and online pharmacies has sparked a global shortage. Other diabetes medications are now also being repurposed for weight loss: On Wednesday, the FDA approved Zepbound, another version of Mounjaro, for chronic weight management.

Torrid market for copycat weight loss drugs could be short-lived

The legal copycats are compounded drugs. They’re prepared by pharmacists using ingredients bought from suppliers registered with the Food and Drug Administration. In this case, pharmacies are buying semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, and tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound; preparing it for consumer use; and then offering it through telehealth websites or med spas.

Wegovy and Ozempic: could the new weight-loss drug also treat dementia?

A clinical trial is underway here at the University of Oxford that will specifically examine tau levels in people who have high levels of amyloid-beta but have not (yet) developed dementia. It is hoped that semaglutide will reduce cortical tau levels, leading to reduced rates of cognitive decline.

What You Need to Know About Compounded Versions of Popular Weight Loss Drugs

But as with many situations in which supply far exceeds demand, questionable versions of these drugs are making their way into desperate patients’ hands, and doctors are concerned about what exactly these versions contain. Some online sellers are exploiting the opportunity to cash in, selling knockoffs of Wegovy, whose active ingredient is semaglutide, that may not even contain semaglutide.

‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul’: Obesity experts debate risks of new weight loss drugs

Amid rising demand for drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro that can lead to significant weight loss, some obesity experts are concerned about the drugs’ costs — both to patients’ finances and to their health.

Resources

GLP-1 Agonists

GLP-1 agonists are used to lower blood sugar levels to treat diabetes type 2 by releasing more insulin into the bloodstream

Non-insulin Injectable Diabetes Medications

You might be wondering why anyone would take these drugs, since they must be injected. These drugs do lower HbA1c levels, but only by 0.5% to 1.5%. They’re also only used as a second or third agent, not by themselves. One of the main draws of these drugs is that they do lead to weight loss in about 80% of users, and they seem to curb hunger, making it a good choice for people who constantly feel hungry. Weight loss eventually plateaus, however, so keep that in mind.

Ozempic

Ozempic® is a medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes that, along with diet and exercise, may improve blood sugar. While not for weight loss, Ozempic® may help you lose some weight.

Rybelsus

Though not for weight loss, RYBELSUS® may help you lose some weight

Wegovy

Wegovy® is for adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (excess weight) (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems to help them lose weight and keep it off. Wegovy® should be used with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.

Calibrate

Calibrate doctors prescribe medications called GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1s) because research shows that, in combination with coaching, GLP-1s are the most effective and safe long-term option for weight loss.

StatPearls

Many formulations of GLP-1 agonists, all of which historically were injectable and administered subcutaneously due to poor oral bioavailability, can be prescribed in the United States. Lixisenatide and liraglutide dosing are once-daily, albiglutide, dulaglutide, semaglutide dosing is once weekly, and exenatide can be dosed either as a twice-daily or a once-weekly injection. Recently, the FDA approved an oral formulation of semaglutide.