The diabetes drug Ozempic, along with its counterpart Wigovy, which is approved as a weight-loss drug, has been a game-changer in the fight against obesity.
Doctors are currently testing new drugs that may have similar effects and even better results. Here’s the latest research and why it could lead to lower prices for expensive injections.
Marlene Greenleaf of Fort Washington, Maryland, lost over 40 pounds using Wegovy.
“I don’t show any signs of diabetes anymore. I’m more active. I can go outside and do things I never thought I would do before,” she said.
Lisa Robillard of Alexandria, Virginia, took the drug for the first time as part of a clinical trial. Having struggled with her weight since childhood, she has lost 60 pounds.
“For the first time I left food on my plate. For the first time, I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve had enough,'” she said.
Dr. Domenica Rubino, Director Washington Weight Management Research Center At Arlington, he participated in early research before the drug hit the market.
“We were really excited,” she said of the results.
Average patient weight loss was 15%. Rubino says this reduction can improve blood sugar levels, blood pressure, fatty liver disease, and can also help reduce joint pain.
Ozempic and Wigovy are both manufactured by Novo Nordisk and use a key ingredient called semaglutide. It targets areas of the brain that help regulate appetite, helping you feel fuller for longer.
“What we really need are more tools.”
Rubino and her team are now testing a new drug to see if it can help chronically obese people lose more weight.
“The results look very promising. They appear to be more advanced than what has been seen to date in terms of average weight loss with semaglutide,” she said. “In fact, on average she loses more than 20 percent of her weight. And many people can reach her 25 percent.”
Side effects of drugs already on the market can include nausea, vomiting, vision changes, and kidney problems. In severe cases, Ozempic and Wigoby can cause intestinal obstruction, according to the drug’s warning label.
That’s why these clinical trials are so important.
Rubino’s center is actively recruiting participants for four different clinical trials. They are investigating combinations of semaglutide and several new gastrointestinal hormones that can suppress hunger.
Rubino said it will still be several years before a new drug is approved by the FDA. It will give doctors and patients more options.
“What we really need are more tools, because we have to remember that not everyone responds to the same drugs. We are biologically different.” she said.
More options can mean lower prices. Weekly shots of Ozempic and Wigoby cost more than $1,000 a month and are typically not covered by insurance, making them out of reach for many Americans.
“This is about health,” Rubino said. “It’s not about losing weight. It’s not about fitting into a designer dress. I can’t stress that enough. We’re changing people’s lives with these new drugs.”
In early November, the FDA approved a new weight loss drug. His Zepbound, from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, promises to be the most effective drug ever. In clinical trials, people lost an average of 52 pounds. It will be available after Thanksgiving.
