cientists are hoping that the obesity medications Ozempic and Wegovy could help conditions like alcohol misuse and dementia, given the semaglutide they contain is similar to a drug called liraglutide, which is used for both conditions.
Dr Christian Hendershot, director of the clinical and translational addiction research programme at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said: “We know that drugs in this class are remarkably effective for several important health outcomes – many of which can influence longevity and quality of life.
“In some ways there is a sense that some of this might be too good to be true. But I think any potential benefits should be investigated.”
The news comes shortly after experts shared that Wegovy could reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, by 20 per cent, according to drugmaker Novo Nordisk.
The results released in recent weeks are the first to show that a weight-loss medicine offers medical advantages beyond helping people lose weight.
Although Novo Nordisk has not yet made available the whole trial results, Dr Shauna Levy, a specialist in obesity medicine and the medical director of the Tulane Bariatric Centre in New Orleans, believes that the study may be convincing enough to persuade US insurance companies to cover the costly medication.
Because Wegovy hasn’t been deemed medically necessary, many users have had difficulties getting insurance to pay for the once-weekly injections, which cost more than $1,300 (£1,000) for a month’s supply.
However, recent analysis discovered that several patients who took Wegovy and Ozempic suffered severe gastroparesis, better known as stomach paralysis.
Two patients who had taken the type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic said their “stomachs are paralysed” in a CNN article from July 25.
“I wish I never touched it. I wish I’d never heard of it in my life,” said Joannie Knight, 37, of Angie, Louisiana. “This medicine made my life hell. So much hell. It has cost me money. It cost me a lot of stress; it cost me days and nights and trips with my family. It’s cost me a lot, and it’s not worth it. The price is too high.”
Wegovy is one of several weight loss drugs being investigated for “a possible link to thoughts of suicide and self-harm among users”, the BBC has reported. The European Medicines Agency will investigate Wegovy, Saxenda, Ozempic and other similar drugs after three cases were identified in Iceland.
Meanwhile, Wegovy was approved for NHS use following research that indicated users could lose more than 10 per cent of their body weight, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said GPs in England could soon start offering it.
But experts have warned that “skinny jabs” are no substitute for exercising and maintaining a healthy diet.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is an injectable medicine used for adults with obesity or a (body mass index) BMI of 27 or more.
It suppresses appetite by mimicking a hormone named glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that is normally released after eating. This makes people feel full, meaning they eat less and lose weight.
Patients will be required to inject themselves weekly.
Nick Finer, honorary clinical professor at the National Centre for Cardiovascular Prevention and Outcomes at University College London, said: “The efficacy of semaglutide is a true game-changer for the medical treatment of obesity, a chronic disease that shortens life through its many complications.”
It has been reported that some users have hailed the drug as a miracle given the dramatic weight loss they have enjoyed.
In May, a study found that almost half the children who were administered a “miracle weight-loss” injection lost enough weight to no longer be classified as clinically obese.
Semaglutide, which is also sold under the brand name Wegovy and Ozempic, is an appetite-suppressant drug usually used to treat type 2 diabetes but is increasingly being used for weight management.
The research, carried out by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine, assigned the injection to 201 adolescents classed as clinically obese.
The study’s results found that, for those on semaglutide, almost 45 per cent of them were able to drop below the clinical definition for obesity.
The report’s conclusion said that administering the drug once a week gave “historically unprecedented” results, and brought about “clinically meaningful improvements”.
Semaglutide has received various high-profile celebrity endorsements, with figures such as Twitter boss Elon Musk having claimed to have used the drug. A Twitter user asked Mr Musk last October how he remained “fit, ripped, and healthy”, to which he replied “fasting” and “Wegovy”. And many believe others, including Kim Kardashian, make use of it too.
The drug is set to be available on prescription on the NHS after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) gave it the green light.
However, the drug can come with some unpleasant side effects, and warnings have been issued about the dangers of dramatic weight loss.
What is Ozempic?
As with Wegovy, adults with type 2 diabetes use the once-weekly injectable drug Ozempic to help control their blood sugar levels. Despite Ozempic not being classified as a weight loss medication, research indicates that those who use it may experience slight weight reduction while doing so.
Who can use Wegovy?
Those with a BMI of 30 or more, or those with a BMI of 27 or more who also have a weight-related medical problem, can use the drug.
Patients who are prescribed the medication will have the injections as part of a thorough weight-management programme and an increase in exercise.
Nice said that weight-related conditions that will make obese people eligible will include “type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia (unbalanced or unhealthy cholesterol levels), obstructive sleep apnoea and heart disease”.
A study found that the weight of people who were given the drug fell by 12 per cent on average after 68 weeks.
Does Wegovy have any side effects?
Nice has said it will be approving the injectables for a two-year course of treatment at the most, with side effects minimal when used correctly.
Mild nausea, diarrhoea and headaches are some of the side effects but they were found to be “mild to moderate in severity and subsided with time”.
Experiencing suicidal thoughts is reportedly listed as a side effect on the leaflet.
When will Wegovy be available in the UK?
The new scheme will test how GPs could safely prescribe such drugs as Wegovy.
Mr Sunak said: “Obesity puts huge pressure on the NHS. Using the latest drugs to support people to lose weight will be a game-changer by helping to tackle dangerous obesity-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.”
The injectable is already available privately through pharmacists and costs on average £130 a month. The drug will be available to NHS patients soon when the launch of the drug in England is confirmed by manufacturer Novo Nordisk.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: “For some people, losing weight is a real challenge, which is why a medicine like semaglutide is a welcome option.
“It won’t be available to everyone. Our committee has made specific recommendations to ensure it remains value for money for the taxpayer, and it can only be used for a maximum of two years.
“We are pleased to finally publish our final guidance on semaglutide, which will mean some people will be able to access this much-talked-about drug on the NHS.”
Sky News reported that in February, it had transpired that some high street chemists in England will prescribe the drug through their online doctor services.
