Game-changer or gimmick? What you need to know about the new weight-loss drugs sweeping the world
PARIS, June 22 — A new generation of weight-loss drugs has proven remarkably effective, hugely popular and massively lucrative in the last few years, though they do have some drawbacks.
After France on Friday became the latest country to allow all doctors, rather than just specialists, to prescribe these drugs, here are some key questions about them.
How do they work?
The most well-known of this new wave of drugs are Danish pharma firm Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as US company Eli Lilly's Mounjaro.
These drugs enhance the action of a hormone in the pancreas called 'glucagon-like peptide 1', or GLP-1, the name given to this family of medications.
The hormone affects the secretion of insulin, so was first targeted to develop drugs to combat diabetes.
But it turned out that GLP-1 drugs also suppress people's appetite by making them feel fuller.
Boxes of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain March 8, 2024. — Reuters pic
A revolution?
Obesity experts now agree that these drugs are a historic breakthrough in the history of people trying to lose weight. Previously, surgery was the main option for obesity when diet and exercise did not work.
This is no small feat. Obesity affects 900 million people worldwide, in what is considered a major crisis.
The new drugs 'cover a major unmet need: obesity was one of the only chronic diseases for which there were few medications,' French endocrinologist Emmanuel Disse told AFP.
During clinical trials, the drugs have been found to reduce people's weight by an average of 15 to 20 per cent.
Limitations?
However these drugs do have some limitations, including side effects.
The semaglutide drug used in Ozempic has been approved for diabetes since 2017, so there is now nearly a decade of research on its use.
A large study using health data from hundreds of thousands of US veterans published in January found that GLP-1s are not linked to a higher risk of heart problems or suicidal thoughts, as had previously been suggested.
However there are rare cases of serious side effects, such as damage to the pancreas, it said.
More commonly, they can also cause nausea, vomiting, migraines and disturb sleep, which can turn some patients off the drugs.
They also do not work for everyone – some people taking the drugs do not lose weight.
And the effect only lasts when people are taking the drug, meaning that they potentially need lifelong treatment.
They are also expensive, sometimes costing over US$1,000 a month in the United States to €300 in France.
The drugs are also only available in injectable forms – though pharma firms are developing daily pills that have shown promise in early trials.
Flags with the Novo Nordisk logo flutter outside their Danish company's offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, September 26, 2023. — Reuters pic
Who should use them?
National health agencies have emphasised that these drugs should only be prescribed to overweight or obese people for whom things like exercise and diet have failed.
However there is plenty of evidence that some people who are not overweight use the drugs simply to lose a few extra kilos.
France's ANSM medications authority said that these drugs should 'not be used for weight loss for aesthetic purposes,' warning that inappropriate use could expose people to 'adverse effects that are sometimes serious'.
What next?
Steven O'Rahilly, head of Cambridge University's Institute of Metabolic Sciences, told AFP he was confident there will be 'a pretty rapid evolution of drugs that are more effective, with fewer side effects, cheaper and more convenient'.
'It may be more of a challenge to combine all those four advances in a single medicine,' he added.
With billions of dollars at stake, pharma firms are racing to be the first to market with a new treatment.
Novo Nordisk's experimental drug amycretin could be even more effective than existing GLP-1s, according to early trial results published in The Lancet on Saturday.
There has also been a growing field of research revealing the potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond obesity.
They have been linked to improvements for a range of maladies, including dementia and addiction. It is still unclear if these are a direct effect of the drugs, or are linked to improvements with obesity or diabetes. — AFP
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Malay Mail
8 hours ago
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Game-changer or gimmick? What you need to know about the new weight-loss drugs sweeping the world
PARIS, June 22 — A new generation of weight-loss drugs has proven remarkably effective, hugely popular and massively lucrative in the last few years, though they do have some drawbacks. After France on Friday became the latest country to allow all doctors, rather than just specialists, to prescribe these drugs, here are some key questions about them. How do they work? The most well-known of this new wave of drugs are Danish pharma firm Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as US company Eli Lilly's Mounjaro. These drugs enhance the action of a hormone in the pancreas called 'glucagon-like peptide 1', or GLP-1, the name given to this family of medications. The hormone affects the secretion of insulin, so was first targeted to develop drugs to combat diabetes. But it turned out that GLP-1 drugs also suppress people's appetite by making them feel fuller. Boxes of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain March 8, 2024. — Reuters pic A revolution? Obesity experts now agree that these drugs are a historic breakthrough in the history of people trying to lose weight. Previously, surgery was the main option for obesity when diet and exercise did not work. This is no small feat. Obesity affects 900 million people worldwide, in what is considered a major crisis. The new drugs 'cover a major unmet need: obesity was one of the only chronic diseases for which there were few medications,' French endocrinologist Emmanuel Disse told AFP. During clinical trials, the drugs have been found to reduce people's weight by an average of 15 to 20 per cent. Limitations? However these drugs do have some limitations, including side effects. The semaglutide drug used in Ozempic has been approved for diabetes since 2017, so there is now nearly a decade of research on its use. A large study using health data from hundreds of thousands of US veterans published in January found that GLP-1s are not linked to a higher risk of heart problems or suicidal thoughts, as had previously been suggested. However there are rare cases of serious side effects, such as damage to the pancreas, it said. More commonly, they can also cause nausea, vomiting, migraines and disturb sleep, which can turn some patients off the drugs. They also do not work for everyone – some people taking the drugs do not lose weight. And the effect only lasts when people are taking the drug, meaning that they potentially need lifelong treatment. They are also expensive, sometimes costing over US$1,000 a month in the United States to €300 in France. The drugs are also only available in injectable forms – though pharma firms are developing daily pills that have shown promise in early trials. Flags with the Novo Nordisk logo flutter outside their Danish company's offices in Copenhagen, Denmark, September 26, 2023. — Reuters pic Who should use them? National health agencies have emphasised that these drugs should only be prescribed to overweight or obese people for whom things like exercise and diet have failed. However there is plenty of evidence that some people who are not overweight use the drugs simply to lose a few extra kilos. France's ANSM medications authority said that these drugs should 'not be used for weight loss for aesthetic purposes,' warning that inappropriate use could expose people to 'adverse effects that are sometimes serious'. What next? Steven O'Rahilly, head of Cambridge University's Institute of Metabolic Sciences, told AFP he was confident there will be 'a pretty rapid evolution of drugs that are more effective, with fewer side effects, cheaper and more convenient'. 'It may be more of a challenge to combine all those four advances in a single medicine,' he added. With billions of dollars at stake, pharma firms are racing to be the first to market with a new treatment. Novo Nordisk's experimental drug amycretin could be even more effective than existing GLP-1s, according to early trial results published in The Lancet on Saturday. There has also been a growing field of research revealing the potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond obesity. They have been linked to improvements for a range of maladies, including dementia and addiction. It is still unclear if these are a direct effect of the drugs, or are linked to improvements with obesity or diabetes. — AFP
Malay Mail
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French scientists find new blood type in Guadeloupe woman
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Novo Nordisk advances early-stage obesity medication, amycretin, to phase 3 clinical development based on early-phase clinical trial results in people with obesity or excess weight, published in The L
Both subcutaneous and oral formulations will advance straight to phase 3 development based on completed clinical studies and feedback received from regulatory authorities1,2 PLAINSBORO, N.J., June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, results from two early-phase clinical trials evaluating Novo Nordisk's amycretin, an innovative investigational obesity treatment designed to target appetite regulation, were published in The Lancet.1 In a phase 1b/2a clinical trial of 125 adults with overweight or obesity, once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin appeared to be safe and tolerable in trial participants, who also achieved significantly greater weight loss across the full range of doses investigated versus placebo.1 A related phase 1 trial of once-daily oral amycretin in adults with obesity or overweight also showed that treatment was safe and tolerable with an observed reduction in body weight compared to placebo.2 No weight loss plateau was observed in either trial at the end of the respective treatment durations.1,2 Data on subcutaneous amycretin is scheduled to be presented on Sunday, June 22nd, during a late-breaking poster session at the American Diabetes Association's® (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions.1 'We are pleased with the promising results of amycretin and the feedback from regulatory authorities and are excited to advance both subcutaneous and oral versions of this molecule into phase 3 development for weight management. At Novo Nordisk, we understand that addressing obesity is a complex challenge that many patients face. These results reflect our robust pipeline in obesity, our focus on progressing scientific innovation and expanding the range of options available to patients and healthcare professionals,' said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk. 'We remain steadfast in our mission to discover and develop therapies that can have a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by obesity.' Results from the phase 1b/2a trial of subcutaneous amycretin showed treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mild or moderate in severity and increased in frequency in a dose-dependent manner. The most frequent reported TEAEs were gastrointestinal in nature. Compared to placebo, participants receiving amycretin observed greater weight loss across the full range of doses investigated.1 Subcutaneous amycretin at multiple doses demonstrated greater weight reduction than placebo at the end of the trial. Participants who received the highest doses (up to 60 mg) reported body weight reductions of up to 24.3% versus 1.1% with placebo after 36 weeks of treatment. Results from this first-in-human phase 1b/2a study support further investigation of potential weight-loss efficacy of amycretin. Results from the published phase 1 trial of oral amycretin showed that the most common TEAEs were related to gastrointestinal symptoms (mainly nausea and vomiting) and decreased appetite; these were most frequent for the higher doses. Trial participants receiving the study treatment demonstrated significantly greater weight loss across the full range of doses investigated versus the placebo group.2 Exploratory results showed participants taking 100 mg per day of oral amycretin achieved a mean weight loss of 13.1% versus 1.2% with placebo after 12 weeks.2 Based on these phase 1 results, longer evaluation with more participants is warranted to substantiate the full efficacy findings of oral amycretin on body weight reductions and changes in metabolic parameters. Novo Nordisk will advance both subcutaneous and oral amycretin formulations straight to phase 3 development for weight management based on these and other completed clinical studies, as well as feedback received from regulatory authorities. About amycretinAmycretin is a unimolecular long-acting GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist under development by Novo Nordisk, to provide a treatment for adults with overweight or obesity and as a treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes. Amycretin is under investigation for oral and subcutaneous administration, and is not approved in the US for weight loss. About the phase 1b/2a subcutaneous amycretin trialThe phase 1b/2a trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center, double-blinded study of 125 participants assessing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and effects on body weight after subcutaneous administration of amycretin in people with overweight or obesity.1 Adults with a body mass index of 27-39.9kg/m2 and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <6.5% were eligible for the trial.1 The trial was conducted in 5 parts: a single ascending dose (Part A) for determination of pharmacokinetics and starting dose for the first multiple dose cohort in which the safety and tolerability were explored using dose escalation until 36 weeks of total treatment duration (Part B).1 Lastly, in the multiple ascending dose – dose response parts, body weight loss was explored for up to 36 weeks of dosing by escalating to dose levels of 1.25 mg, 5 mg, and 20 mg, respectively, dosed for 12 weeks (Part E, D and C).1 About the phase 1 oral amycretin trial The phase 1 single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single ascending doses (Part A) and multiple ascending doses (Part B, 10 days of treatment; Part C/D, 12 weeks of treatment) of 144 adult participants with overweight or obesity.2 The primary endpoint was the number of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) observed in the trial. The trial evaluated the single-ascending dose and multiple ascending doses for oral amycretin, up to 2 times 50 mg, in people with overweight or obesity, with a total treatment duration of up to 12 weeks.2 About obesityObesity is a serious chronic, progressive, and complex disease that requires long-term management.3-5 One key misunderstanding is that this is a disease of just lack of willpower, when in fact there is underlying biology that may impede people with obesity from losing weight and keeping it off.3,5 Obesity is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, social determinants of health, and the environment.6,7 The prevalence of overweight and obesity is a public health issue that has severe cost implications to healthcare systems.8,9 In the US, about 40% of adults live with obesity.10 About Novo NordiskNovo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company that's been making innovative medicines to help people with diabetes lead longer, healthier lives for more than 100 years. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to drive change to help people defeat other serious chronic diseases such as obesity, rare blood, and endocrine disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for lasting success is to stay focused, think long-term, and do business in a financially, socially, and environmentally responsible way. With a US presence spanning 40 years, Novo Nordisk US is headquartered in New Jersey and employs over 10,000 people throughout the country across 12 manufacturing, R&D and corporate locations in eight states plus Washington DC. For more information, visit Facebook, Instagram, and X. Novo Nordisk is committed to the responsible use of our semaglutide-containing medicines which represent distinct products with different indications, dosages, prescribing information, titration schedules, and delivery forms. These products are not interchangeable and should not be used outside of their approved indications. Learn more at Contacts for further information Media: Liz Skrbkova (US)+1 609 917 0632USMediaRelations@ Ambre James-Brown (Global)+45 3079 9289Globalmedia@ Investors: Frederik Taylor Pitter (US)+1 609 613 0568fptr@ Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode (Global)+45 3075 5956jrde@ Sina Meyer (Global)+45 3079 6656 azey@ Ida Schaap Melvold (Global)+45 3077 5649 idmg@ Max Ung (Global)+45 3077 6414mxun@ References Dahl K, Toubro S, Dey S, et al. Amycretin, a novel, unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist administered subcutaneously: Results of a randomised, controlled, phase 1b/2a study. The Lancet. Published online: June 20, 2025. Gasiorek A, Heydorn A, Gabery S, et al. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the first-in-class GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, amycretin: a first-in-human, phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled study. The Lancet. Published online: June 20, 2025. Kaplan LM, Golden A, Jinnett K, et al. Perceptions of barriers to effective obesity care: results from the national action study. Obesity. 2018;26(1):61-69. Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH; World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Rev. 2017;18(7):715-723. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al. American association of clinical endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22 (Suppl 3):1-203. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult obesity facts. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: World Obesity Federation. World Obesity Atlas 2023. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk Factors for Obesity. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why it matters. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity and Severe Obesity Prevalence in Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023. Last accessed June 2025. Available at: © 2025 Novo Nordisk All rights reserved. US25SEMO01477 June 2025
