New weight loss drugs: Amazing or alarming? Essential information to consider.
Pharmaceutical Giants Compete for Dominance in Weight Management Drug Market
Pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are locked in a fierce competition to dominate the weight management drug market. Both companies have recently launched obesity medications that have garnered significant attention.
Novo Nordisk’s Achievements and Challenges
Novo Nordisk has seen some setbacks with its weight management drug Wegovy and Type II diabetes medication Ozempic. These setbacks include production shortages and adverse patient complications. However, the Danish company continues to grow its market share and acquire smaller competitors.
Eli Lilly’s Strong Financial Growth
Eli Lilly, the maker of Type II diabetes medication Mounjaro, has also experienced strong financial growth this quarter. The company is eagerly awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration to use Mounjaro as a weight loss medication, putting it in direct competition with Novo Nordisk.
The Changing Landscape of Weight Management
Here is everything you need to know about the changing weight management landscape.
How do these drugs work?
Ozempic and Wegovy both contain the active ingredient semaglutide, which functions as a GLP-1 agonist. This mimics the natural hormone that promotes insulin development in the body, leading to lower blood sugar levels.
Ozempic was initially approved by the FDA as a once-weekly injection medication for insulin-dependent Type II diabetes. While it is commonly prescribed as a weight loss drug, it does not have FDA approval for that purpose. On the other hand, Wegovy, a higher dose of semaglutide than Ozempic, received FDA approval as a weight loss medication in 2021.
Mounjaro, also an injectable medication, was approved by the FDA in May 2022. It treats diabetes differently than Ozempic by activating two different hormone receptors to stimulate natural insulin production. While weight loss is a side effect of Mounjaro, it has not yet received FDA clearance to be prescribed solely for weight management.
Effectiveness as Weight Loss Agents
Scientific evidence shows that these drugs are indeed effective as weight loss agents. One independent analysis found that patients taking GLP-1 agonists, including semaglutide, lost over 5% of their body weight. In fact, 50% of participants on semaglutide GLP-1 agonists lost over 5% of their body weight, making it the most effective among the tested products.
According to the FDA, diabetic patients taking the maximum dose of 15 milligrams of Mounjaro lost an average of 15 pounds without insulin and 23 pounds with insulin. This is approximately 12 pounds more on average than the weight lost on semaglutide alone. Eli Lilly claims that Mounjaro can reduce body weight in diabetic patients by 16%, or more than 34 pounds, in 17 months.
However, patients who discontinue the medication are likely to regain the weight they lost.
Impact on Obesity Medicine
New research published in Nature Medicine found that obesity changes brain chemistry and the process of nutrient sensing. This supports the argument made by obesity medicine specialists and advocates that obesity should be treated as a disease in itself.
Novo Nordisk recently released data showing that Wegovy not only improves patient weight loss but also reduces heart attacks and strokes by 20%. This news has been encouraging for the Obesity Medicine Association, which believes that comprehensive treatment for obesity can improve patients’ overall health.
Possible Complications
There have been reports of gastrointestinal problems caused by GLP-1 agonists products for Type II diabetes. A lawsuit has been filed against both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging that Ozempic and Mounjaro cause gastroparesis and gastroenteritis. Mental health consequences are also being investigated in connection with GLP-1 agonists.
High Demand and its Effects
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have experienced high demand for their weight management drugs. Novo Nordisk expects higher sales in 2023, and Eli Lilly’s profits from Mounjaro have exceeded projections.
Novo Nordisk has faced challenges with manufacturing to meet the demand for semaglutide and injection pens. To address this, the company has limited the availability of starter doses for Wegovy and Ozempic to prioritize existing patients.
Eli Lilly is building a new manufacturing plant in North Carolina to address supply chain challenges.
Impact on the Healthcare Industry
Advocates for obesity medicine are pushing for Wegovy to be covered by health insurance companies. The recent data from the SELECT trial may help convince insurers that Wegovy is a worthwhile preventive treatment for obesity.
Legislation has also been introduced to cover obesity therapy treatments and medication, including Wegovy, under Medicare. Lawmakers recognize the need to combat the rising obesity rates and make care more accessible.
Novo Nordisk has hired a lobbying firm to advocate for Medicare coverage of its prime drug for weight loss and obesity management.
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