Category: GLP-1s

The battle over who should provide obesity and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy has reached a critical point, as manufacturers and compounding pharmacies clash over the demand of these medications, NPR reported Nov. 20. 

Researchers estimate that 136.8 million adults in the U.S. are eligible for semaglutide, the generic for Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus.

A recent study conducted in Sweden found that GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy may help reduce alcohol consumption and related harms in individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. 

The ever-rising popularity of GLP-1 medications is reshaping the landscape of bariatric surgeries — but experts say patients could be overlooking key factors when choosing between the two weight loss treatments.

Telehealth companies selling low-cost, compounded versions of popular weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are drawing increased interest from employers, Bloomberg reported Oct. 29.

 Between 2022 and 2023, prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs soared 132.6% while bariatric surgery rates fell 25.6%, according to a new study from researchers at Boston-based Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. 

Researchers have recently identified more potential uses for Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications, including treating opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 medication, Rybelsus, reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 14% compared to a placebo in a phase 3 trial, the drugmaker said Oct. 21. 

Research led by a Northwestern Medicine team found that, despite higher upfront costs, bariatric surgeries offer two more quality years of life compared to GLP-1 therapies.

Hundreds of clinical trials are researching how drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro affect a plethora of conditions, Nature reported Sept. 25.