Explainer: What are the weight loss drugs drawing intense international attention?
Wegovy, Mounjaro, Ozempic… These new drugs drawing such intense attention have raised the hopes of millions around the world suffering from diabetes or obesity. But what are they, how are they used and who makes them?
Imitating a key hormone
These drugs imitate a hormone known as GLP-1 (it stands for glugacon-like peptide-1), which is secreted by the intestines. It stimulates insulin production and creates a feeling of fullness, suppressing the appetite.
This class of drugs is used to manage Type 2 diabetes – the most common type – and to help with weight loss.
They are administered by weekly injection, but big drug makers like Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Pfizer are working to develop a pill form to be taken daily.
Side effects include nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal troubles.
Wegovy and Ozempic
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, the world leader in diabetes treatments, uses the drug semaglutide in its Wegovy treatment for obesity, and in Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy received US approval in 2021. It is sold in Denmark, Norway, Britain and now Switzerland. Novo Nordisk hopes to receive French certification next year.
Ozempic got US authorization in 2017. Supply shortages there recently resulted from furious demand by people hoping to lose weight, often after seeing glowing reports from celebrities or influencers on social media.
In the United States alone, Wegovy and Ozempic are expected to generate sales, respectively, of $8.1 billion and $2.1 billion by 2031, according to a GlobalData report in March.
Mounjaro and Zepbound from Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly’s drug tirzepatide has been marketed as Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes sufferers since US health authorities greenlighted it last year. It has also been prescribed on an “off-label” basis, that is, for purposes not specifically approved – in this case, for weight loss.
Tirzepatide, to be sold as Zepbound, did receive US approval for treatment of obesity on November 8.
Zepbound is prescribed both for the obese and for overweight patients with underlying conditions like Type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol or high blood pressure.
Eli Lilly set its price at $1,060 a month.
