Weight Watchers has announced that it will offer a combined version of semaglutide, best known under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, despite concerns from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about an unapproved version of the drug. The company said the new product is in addition to its existing program to address long-term shortages of popular drugs, also known as GLP-1 treatments. This high demand has created a market for compound versions of weight loss drugs. In fact, Weight Watchers said half of its current members have indicated they are considering using the drug, but 45% of those surveyed have been denied insurance coverage in the past six months. Despite being eligible for this class of treatments, many people cannot afford or do not have access to them,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin, chief of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. WeightWatchers’ website claims that its formulated semaglutide contains the same active ingredients as the name brand and is manufactured by an FDA-registered facility. Fatim Cody Stanford, an obesity physician at Massachusetts General Brigham University and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, cautions that compound versions of the drugs are not the same and have not been tested. “We recognize that these are not subject to the same rigorous testing and quality control standards as FDA drugs,” she said. As 5 Investigates previously reported, the FDA issued a warning expressing “concern” about compounded semaglutide. “Unapproved versions have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, efficacy, and quality before they are marketed, which could pose a risk to patients.” said in a statement. As of the end of August, the FDA announced that it had received 346 reports of adverse events related to combination semaglutide. The agency also warned that the problem may be underreported. “In this country, we have seen a 20-fold increase in poisonings, especially with prescription drugs aimed at weight management,” Professor Stanford said. “I wouldn’t expose my patients to this because it doesn’t have the same rigor. There is variation in potency, purity and overall quality, which could potentially impact the safety that patients experience.” “Patient safety and education are our top priorities, so anyone prescribed compounded GLP-1 will receive one-on-one support from a trained clinician. “Receive step-by-step guidance on how to use the medication safely, including access to “telehealth appointments,” Dr. Jamil Alkad, Weight Watchers’ medical director, said in a statement provided by the company. Ta. Ellerin and Stanford agreed that patients should consult their doctors when considering these drugs. “You have to weigh the risks and benefits, and there are risks here because these drugs are often taken at home,” Ellerin said.
Weight Watchers has announced that it will offer a combined version of semaglutide, best known under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, despite concerns from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about an unapproved version of the drug.
The company said the new product is in addition to its existing program to address long-term shortages of popular drugs, also known as GLP-1 treatments. This high demand has created a market for combined versions of weight loss drugs.
In fact, Weight Watchers said half of its current members said they were considering using the drug, and 45% of those surveyed said they had been denied insurance coverage in the past six months.
“We’re at a crossroads here,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin, chief of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. “A lot of people either can’t afford it or don’t have access to it.”
WeightWatchers’ website claims that the formulated semaglutide contains the same active ingredients as the name brand and is manufactured by an FDA-registered facility.
Dr. Fatim Kodi Stanford, an obesity physician at Massachusetts General Brigham University and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, cautions that compound versions of the drugs are not the same and have not been tested.
“When we work with compounded drugs, we need to recognize that they are not subject to the same rigorous testing and quality control standards as FDA drugs,” she said.
5 As Investigates previously reported, the F.D.A. issued a warning Expressed “concerns” about the combination of semaglutide.
“Unapproved versions have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, efficacy, and quality before being marketed, which could pose a risk to patients,” the statement said.
As of the end of August, the FDA announced that it had received 346 reports of adverse events related to combination semaglutide. The agency also warned that the problem may be underreported.
“In this country, we have seen a 20-fold increase in poisonings, especially with prescription drugs aimed at weight management,” Professor Stanford said. “I wouldn’t expose my patients to this because it doesn’t have the same rigor. There is variation in potency, purity and overall quality, which could potentially impact the safety that patients experience.” There is a sex.”
“Patient safety and education are our top priorities, which is why anyone prescribed compounded GLP-1 includes access to one-on-one support from a trained clinician. “Receive step-by-step guidance on how to safely use the drug during your telemedicine appointment,” Weight Watchers Medical Director Dr. Jamil Alkad said in a statement provided by the company.
Ellerin and Stanford agreed that patients should consult their doctors when considering these drugs.
“We have to weigh the risks and benefits. There are risks here because these drugs are often taken at home,” Ellerin said.
