New analyses from the longest clinical trial of the weight-loss drug Wegovy reveal its effectiveness in helping people lose weight quickly and sustain that weight loss over four years. Additionally, the drug may protect the heart in ways beyond weight loss alone, with implications for its use and coverage by insurers. The Select trial, funded by Novo Nordisk, included more than 17,600 people from 41 countries and showed that Wegovy reduced the risk of heart issues by 20% in individuals with existing cardiovascular risk and obesity or overweight.
The FDA has approved Wegovy, a weight loss drug manufactured by Novo Nordisk, to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in individuals with obesity or overweight and a history of heart disease. The approval makes Wegovy the first therapy in the US to help manage weight and reduce heart disease risk. Insurance coverage for the drug may improve with this label update, as many insurers, including Medicare, currently do not cover weight loss medications. Wegovy contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the diabetes drug Ozempic.
The FDA has approved Wegovy, an injectable semaglutide medication originally for weight loss, for reducing the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or obese. The approval marks a major advance in public health, with Wegovy becoming the first weight-loss medication to prevent life-threatening cardiovascular events. Made by Novo Nordisk, Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that showed significant reductions in cardiovascular events in a large trial. Experts believe this approval will change the way heart patients are treated and may increase coverage by insurance providers.
The FDA approved the use of Wegovy, a weight loss medication using semaglutide, for reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes in overweight and obese adults with heart disease by up to 28 percent. Novo Nordisk's shares surged, making it the 12th most valuable company globally. Trial results showed patients had lower risks of heart-related events, even before significant weight loss. Wegovy, an appetite-suppressing drug, is priced at over $1,300 per week. The FDA also warned about potential side effects, including serious conditions like thyroid tumors and cancers.
The weight loss drug Wegovy has helped a 58-year-old Manhattan resident lose 30 pounds, leading to a shift in perspective towards obesity as a disease requiring medical intervention. Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic are transforming the U.S. health and fitness industries, with concerns raised about non-experts dispensing prescription medications. At least 3 million prescriptions for GLP-1 agonists, the class of medications including these drugs, are issued monthly in the U.S.
Medicare will now cover Wegovy, a semaglutide medication, for enrollees in Part D plans to prevent heart attacks and strokes. This new policy from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows coverage for patients with both higher weight and heart disease risk, based on clinical trial results showing a 20% reduction in cardiovascular events. The coverage does not extend to those seeking only weight loss, and prior authorizations may be required. Wegovy's maker, Novo Nordisk, hopes for expanded coverage for obesity medicines. The cost of Wegovy, over $1,000 a month, will now be covered with limitations.
Millions of Americans who have benefitted from obesity drugs like Wegovy are concerned about weight regain if they stop taking them. Efforts to pause or taper off these medications vary, with some users attempting do-it-yourself strategies. New injection drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide are intended for continuous use to regulate appetite. Despite their effectiveness, many users struggle to maintain long-term adherence, with only 40% of Wegovy patients still taking the medication after a year. Experts emphasize that obesity should be managed like a chronic condition, cautioning against intermittent use of these drugs.
Users of pricey diabetes medications touted for weight loss like Ozempic and Wegovy are reporting mixed results with appetite suppression initially leading to weight loss but results plateauing or leading to weight gain for many users, with only about 14% of patients cutting more than 5% of body weight and some even regaining all lost weight upon stopping the medication, highlighting the variability in individual responses and the influence of factors like other medical issues, prior habits, and exercise.
Kiana Price dropped 35 pounds after she started taking the weight-loss medication Wegovy last year. The Greenville, North Carolina mother no longer gets winded climbing stairs. Her knee pain is gone. And, perhaps most importantly Price, who is prediabetic, her cholesterol and blood sugar levels have dropped, giving her hope she can escape her family history of diabetes. But Price, who works at East Carolina University, worries all her progress may be short-lived.
Amgen's experimental weight-loss drug MariTide, in phase two trials, could offer monthly injections for convenience and address unmet medical needs. Amgen aims to release top-line data in 2024, with estimated peak sales of $5 billion. The drug's potential success has sparked a 16% rally in Amgen stock and triggered a drop in Novo Nordisk shares, highlighting fierce competition in the $100 billion obesity market. Novo Nordisk's dominance with Wegovy and Zepbound faces a challenge from Amgen's differentiated approach. Amgen's shift from an oral candidate to MariTide development reflects market demand for effective and convenient weight-loss solutions.
Diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, popular for weight loss, are currently facing a nationwide shortage and high costs of $900-$1,300 per month. As a result, people are turning to alternatives like 'Oatzempic,' a mixture of oats, water, and lime juice touted to aid in dropping 40 pounds in two months. Registered dietician Michelle Routhenstein suggests alternatives like lentils and soups high in fiber and protein, triggering the fullness hormone GLP-1 but at a lower intensity compared to Ozempic, providing a cost-effective and filling option for weight loss.
Megan Tjelle, who struggled with weight gain due to inactivity and stress from nursing school, lost 55 pounds through walking and healthy eating, then used the appetite-suppressing drug Wegovy to shed another 50 pounds. Diagnosed with PCOS and plantar fasciitis, she regained regular periods after years. Tjelle's weight loss journey began at 246 pounds in October 2022 when she committed to a balanced diet in a calorie deficit and increased physical activity, leading to a healthier lifestyle.
Eli Lilly's drug tirzepatide, part of the incretin class, has shown success in weight loss and reducing obstructive sleep apnea in clinical trials. It combines GLP-1 and GIP hormones for a dual-action mechanism resulting in significant weight loss exceeding 20%. This surpasses the effects of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide. Incretin therapy not only aids in weight loss but also shows potential in reducing heart and kidney problems, substance use disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms. The drug's impact on obesity can also improve or prevent conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.
Costco has partnered with Sesame to provide members with a weight loss program offering access to popular medications from pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk for $179 for three months. The program includes clinical consultations and prescription drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. Sesame aims to make specialty care like weight loss affordable and accessible. This expanded partnership follows a trend of companies broadening access to weight loss drugs, emphasizing the importance of medically-supervised weight loss.
Novo Nordisk A/S shares fell due to comments from Amgen Inc.'s CEO about competition from an experimental obesity drug. Novo's sales of Wegovy missed expectations, leading to a stock decline. To navigate competition, Novo plans to lower prices of Wegovy despite rising sales. The weight-loss drug market is booming, with high demand for GLP-1 treatments. Novo faces competition from Eli Lilly. US Senator Bernie Sanders is investigating Novo's drug prices in comparison to other countries. The market for anti-obesity drugs is growing rapidly and attracting celebrity users.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company known for its anti-diabetes and weight-loss drugs, exceeded investor expectations with a sales growth forecast of 19% to 27% and profit growth forecast of 22% to 30% for the year. The company reported a net profit of DKK 25.4 billion for the first quarter of 2024, with impressive sales figures for weight-loss drug Wegovy, particularly in the United States. Novo Nordisk now holds an 85.4% share of the global obesity care market, showcasing massive market dominance.
Semaglutide is an antidiabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti-obesity medication used for long-term weight management. It is a peptide similar to the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), modified with a side chain. It can be administered by subcutaneous injection or taken orally. It is sold under the brand names Ozempic and Rybelsus for diabetes, and under the brand name Wegovy for weight loss.Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.It was approved for medical use in the US in 2017. In 2021, it was the 90th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 8 million prescriptions.
Reality TV star Mama June Shannon, known for her struggles with weight, shared her journey using injectable medications for weight loss after a gastric sleeve surgery in 2015. She went from 550 pounds to 195, maintaining a weight of 130 to 150 pounds until stress caused her to gain back 120 to 130 pounds. Shannon is now trying semaglutide under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, expressing nerves about the treatment. Other celebrities like Tracy Morgan and Sharon Osbourne have also discussed using weight loss drugs, with semaglutide products approved for weight loss despite being initially intended for Type 2 diabetes treatment.
WeightWatchers' stock has plummeted over 50% in the past month following Oprah Winfrey's exit from the board, with concerns raised about competition from weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro. CEO Sima Sistani reassured employees of the company's strong financial position and commitment to future growth, despite stock market challenges and debt talks. Oprah Winfrey's association with WW International since 2015 has seen significant market highs, but recent declines have led to restructuring efforts and the company's pursuit of new growth strategies.
The Novo Nordisk Prize is an annual award presented to acknowledge exceptional contributions within the fields of medical and health sciences. It is specifically aimed at individuals who have demonstrated outstanding research or innovation that has the potential to advance medical science, particularly in areas related to diabetes, endocrinology, and biopharmaceutical science. The prize is administered by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, an independent Danish enterprise foundation.
The Federal Trade Commission is challenging patents on 20 brand name drugs, including the weight-loss injection Ozempic, alleging that certain patents filed by companies like Novo Nordisk and GlaxoSmithKline are inaccurate or misleading. By challenging these patents, the Biden administration aims to address industry practices that drive up pharmaceutical prices. Brand-name drugmakers use patents to protect their medicines and prevent generic competition, leading to inflated prescription drug costs for consumers. The FTC's recent actions follow a previous challenge to over 100 patents held by companies such as Abbvie and AstraZeneca.
A new study published in the JAMA Network Open calculated the production costs of weight loss drugs for diabetes, with GLP-1 agonists estimated to range from 75 cents to $72.49 monthly. Semaglutide injection costs between 89 cents to $4.73 weekly. Novo Nordisk, selling Ozempic for $935.77, declined to disclose production costs, but highlighted $5 billion in research spending and plans to increase production. Pharmaceutical firms are urged to reconsider pricing strategies to improve access to vital diabetes medications, with the study suggesting that GLP-1 drugs could be sold at a profit for as low as $0.89 monthly.
Eli Lilly missed sales estimates on Mounjaro for the first quarter but saw 26% sales growth year over year in its GLP-1 products, including Zepbound. The company raised its full-year guidance by $2 billion to $43 billion. Eli Lilly is increasing access to the weight-loss drug Zepbound, facing resistance from some employers and insurers but aiming to expand coverage. Mizuho's healthcare expert noted Zepbound's positive impact on earnings, suggesting potential for Lilly and competitor Novo Nordisk. Lilly's manufacturing buildout puts it ahead in meeting demand and gaining market share.
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/tobi-thomas
Yahoo! News
Kate Pickles
Meg Tirrell
Yahoo! News
https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews
Sky News
Sky News
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
Wikipedia
PANORA
PANORA
PANORA