New weight-loss drug Wegovy is here, but is it a magical solution? Experts weigh in
The obsession with weight loss injections is still going strong. After the social media frenzy around Ozempic last year and celebrities such as Meghan Trainor, Lizzo, and Amy Schumer admitting to using it, and the buzz when Mounjaro (Elon Musk revealed he used it too!) arrived in India this March, there's a new contender on the block: Wegovy. Earlier this week (June 24), Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk launched this much-anticipated drug in India. But what makes it different from its predecessors, and why is everyone talking about it? Wegovy is designed for long-term weight management and to help reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events in people living with obesity. It comes in a sleek, once-weekly pen device with five dosing options: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg. New weight-loss drug Wegovy is here, but is it a magical solution? Experts weigh in(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Similar to Ozempic and Mounjaro, this new weight loss drug is also a prescription-only medication intended for adults who are obese or overweight and also have at least one weight-related health condition, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. 'The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, which is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). This hormone is released in the gut in response to food intake and helps regulate appetite and food intake,' informs Dr Kashish Gupta, Consultant Endocrinology at PSRI Hospital.
In essence, semaglutide helps you feel full sooner, slows digestion and reduces hunger. These effects can lead to reduced calorie intake over time and, eventually, weight loss. It may also improve blood sugar levels and help lower the risk of heart issues in certain individuals, particularly those with type 2 diabetes. Who can use it?
According to Dr Anjana Kalia, a dietitian at Diet Clinix, it's intended for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above, or 27 and above if there's a related health issue. 'But these are not miracle solutions. The decision to use it should always be taken with a qualified doctor after assessing medical history and risks,' she cautions. Who should avoid it?
People who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, have had pancreatitis or severe digestive disorders, are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to conceive, have eating disorders, or are allergic to semaglutide or its components. These drugs should be taken in full consultation with your medical practitioner. Wegovy vs Mounjaro vs Ozempic 1. Wegovy Active ingredient: Semaglutide
Approved for: Weight loss
Dosage: Once weekly
Benefits: Helps regulate blood sugar levels, lowers the risk of cardiovascular events
Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting
Price: ₹ 17,345 a month for 0.25mg, 0.5mg, and 1mg doses and ₹ 24,280 and ₹ 26,050 a month for 1.7mg and 2.4mg doses, respectively. 2. Mounjaro Active ingredient: Tirzepatide
Approved for: Type 2 diabetes
Dosage: Once weekly
Benefits: Helps regulate blood sugar levels, improves insulin sensitivity
Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and pancreatitis or thyroid issues in rare cases
Price: ₹ 4,375 ($50.67) for a 5 mg vial, ₹ 3,500 ($40.54) for a 2.5mg vial. 3. Ozempic Active ingredient: Semaglutide
Approved for: Type 2 diabetes
Dosage: Once weekly
Benefits: Helps regulate blood sugar levels, decreases appetite
Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, upset stomach
Price: The injectable Ozempic can cost between ₹ 8,000 and ₹ 20,000 a shot.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Endocrinologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal on the happy side-effects of weight-loss drugs
New-age weight-loss drugs are exploding the pharmaceutical market, offering better results than traditional medicines. Top endocrinologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal deconstructs the many facets, including side-effects, of these GLP-1 drugs in his recently published book The Weight Loss Revolution, in an episode of India Today's said that while the GLP-1 field -- drugs that belong to the class of GLP-1 targeting the same hormone in the body -- is just beginning to explode, there'll be many newer drugs with less and less side effects and easier to most cases have shown muscle loss as a prominent result of using GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide or semaglutide, Dr. Mithal explains that losing muscle is an accompanying factor to weight loss. "In the long run, if you're not following a healthy diet, you will end up with significant muscle loss. And this is not because of the weight-loss drugs. Whenever we lose weight, we also lose muscle. If you lose 10 kg, you've lost 2-3 kg of muscle. Now, if you want to preserve that, you have to ensure adequate protein and fibre in your diet. Along with that, you have to make sure that you're exercising regularly and that exercise should include strength training," Dr. Mithal also shared what many people experience loose skin after taking these medicines. "When you lose weight rapidly, you lose subcutaneous fat. Particularly in older people where skin tends to sag anyway. If you suddenly lose weight, don't hydrate yourself well, not eating the right kind of balanced diet, then you get that little sagging on the face which people have started calling Ozempic face. Before these drugs came into the market, anyone we put on a very strict diet or someone who had bariatric surgery would see similar results," he gastrointestinal side-effects, nausea, and vomiting, Dr. Mithal addressed concerns about thyroid cancer, highlighting that there's no evidence to link the also explained the "happy side-effects" of GLP-1 medications. Besides growing body of evidence suggesting how semaglutide is linked to Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Mithal said that the benefits of the drugs are moving beyond weight loss."The evidence that they might be helping Alzheimer's by helping obesity in the brain may actually be very exciting, and even for cardiac health, Parkinson's disease. Cardiac events are reduced. Fatty liver is reduced. Kidney disease progression is reduced. But the brain effects are particularly fascinating. Sleep apnea has also gone down," he said, adding that the drugs have also helped improve fertility outcomes in women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).Currently, most GLP-1 drugs are injectable and expensive, limiting their access in India. However, new formulations and more research are on the way. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, two blockbuster fat-busting medicines, are set to gain ground in India to tackle the diabetes and obesity crisis."Remember, the GLP-1 field is just beginning to explode. There'll be many newer drugs with less and less side effects and easier to use," Dr. Mithal sayssaid.- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
New weight-loss drug Wegovy is here, but is it a magical solution? Experts weigh in
The obsession with weight loss injections is still going strong. After the social media frenzy around Ozempic last year and celebrities such as Meghan Trainor, Lizzo, and Amy Schumer admitting to using it, and the buzz when Mounjaro (Elon Musk revealed he used it too!) arrived in India this March, there's a new contender on the block: Wegovy. Earlier this week (June 24), Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk launched this much-anticipated drug in India. But what makes it different from its predecessors, and why is everyone talking about it? Wegovy is designed for long-term weight management and to help reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events in people living with obesity. It comes in a sleek, once-weekly pen device with five dosing options: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg. New weight-loss drug Wegovy is here, but is it a magical solution? Experts weigh in(Photo: Adobe Stock) Similar to Ozempic and Mounjaro, this new weight loss drug is also a prescription-only medication intended for adults who are obese or overweight and also have at least one weight-related health condition, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. 'The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, which is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). This hormone is released in the gut in response to food intake and helps regulate appetite and food intake,' informs Dr Kashish Gupta, Consultant Endocrinology at PSRI Hospital. In essence, semaglutide helps you feel full sooner, slows digestion and reduces hunger. These effects can lead to reduced calorie intake over time and, eventually, weight loss. It may also improve blood sugar levels and help lower the risk of heart issues in certain individuals, particularly those with type 2 diabetes. Who can use it? According to Dr Anjana Kalia, a dietitian at Diet Clinix, it's intended for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above, or 27 and above if there's a related health issue. 'But these are not miracle solutions. The decision to use it should always be taken with a qualified doctor after assessing medical history and risks,' she cautions. Who should avoid it? People who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, have had pancreatitis or severe digestive disorders, are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to conceive, have eating disorders, or are allergic to semaglutide or its components. These drugs should be taken in full consultation with your medical practitioner. Wegovy vs Mounjaro vs Ozempic 1. Wegovy Active ingredient: Semaglutide Approved for: Weight loss Dosage: Once weekly Benefits: Helps regulate blood sugar levels, lowers the risk of cardiovascular events Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting Price: ₹ 17,345 a month for 0.25mg, 0.5mg, and 1mg doses and ₹ 24,280 and ₹ 26,050 a month for 1.7mg and 2.4mg doses, respectively. 2. Mounjaro Active ingredient: Tirzepatide Approved for: Type 2 diabetes Dosage: Once weekly Benefits: Helps regulate blood sugar levels, improves insulin sensitivity Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and pancreatitis or thyroid issues in rare cases Price: ₹ 4,375 ($50.67) for a 5 mg vial, ₹ 3,500 ($40.54) for a 2.5mg vial. 3. Ozempic Active ingredient: Semaglutide Approved for: Type 2 diabetes Dosage: Once weekly Benefits: Helps regulate blood sugar levels, decreases appetite Side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, upset stomach Price: The injectable Ozempic can cost between ₹ 8,000 and ₹ 20,000 a shot.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Indian Express
How GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide have revolutionised obesity treatment
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk launched its blockbuster weight-loss injectable semaglutide earlier this week, months after its competitor Eli Lilly's tirzepatide hit Indian markets — and nearly four years after these GLP-1 therapies took the United States by storm. The bottom line is this: these drugs have been shown to be extremely effective for weight-loss, helping people lose 15% to 20% of their body weight, equivalent to what they would otherwise lose with bariatric surgeries. Additionally, they have been found to be effective or are being studied for a host of other conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obstructive sleep apnoea. It has also been reported that people on these drugs end up making significant dietary changes, consuming smaller, healthier meals. So how do these 'miracle drugs' work? How were they discovered? And what are other benefits of these drugs? Both semaglutide and tirzepatide belong to a new class of medicines called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists. They are prescribed for the management of type-2 diabetes and obesity. These drugs mimic certain naturally-occurring gut hormones called incretins (GLP-1 is one such incretin) produced in the small intestine, and are hence also known as incretin mimicker. They work by: 🔴 improving the secretion of insulin that allows more of the glucose in the bloodstream to enter cells where it can be used for energy; 🔴 inhibiting the secretion of the hormone glucagon that stimulates the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream; 🔴 slowing down the emptying of the stomach so that the glucose levels in the bloodstream doesn't spike; and 🔴 reducing appetite by signalling to the brain that one is satiated. Semaglutide and tirzepatide both mimic the action of GLP-1. Tirzepatide additionally also mimics the action of another hormone called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). While incretins were known as early as 1906, research into these gut hormones was overshadowed by the discovery of insulin in 1921. The substance produced by the pancreas has been used to manage diabetes for the past century. Interest in incretins was renewed in the 1960s after several studies showed that oral intake of glucose led to more insulin secretion than intravenously given glucose — demonstrating that the gut makes hormones that regulate insulin and glucose levels. GLP-1 became the first incretin to be discovered in 1986. Trials in the 1990s showed that GLP-1 infusion significantly increased insulin levels and lowered glucose levels in diabetic patients. But there was a problem: GLP-1 was not a very stable compound. This is where Novo Nordisk stepped in. While the pharma giant was primarily looking for a diabetes therapy, researchers believed GLP-1 drugs could also be used to treat obesity given that transplantation of some glucagon-producing tumours in animals caused profound anorexia. Novo Nordisk's first GLP-1 medicine was the daily-injectable liraglutide. Trial participants, however, experienced severe nausea, and when the doses were reduced, the efficacy suffered. But the trials found that nausea could be somewhat mitigated by starting at a lower dose and then gradually titrating up — a method still followed for both semaglutide and tirzepatide. The search for a once-weekly injectable eventually led to the discovery of semaglutide. This also proved to be much more effective than liraglutide for weight loss: those on semaglutide lost up to 15% of their body weight compared to 5% on liraglutide. This led to further clinical trials to look into the drug's weight loss effects. While it was already seeing off-label use for this purpose, semaglutide finally received approval for obesity management from the US regulator in 2021. In addition to the 15% average weight loss, trials with semaglutide have demonstrated its ability to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (such as heart attacks and strokes) by 20%, and the risk of all-cause mortality by 19%. Studies have shown a 69% reduction in heart failure events. There is also evidence that the drug can resolve fatty buildup in the liver in 63% of patients and improve liver fibrosis — the hardening of liver tissue due to fatty deposits — in 37% of cases. Tirzepatide, which uses an additional target gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), has been shown to lead to a weight-loss of up to 20% of the body weight. The medicine was also approved for the treatment of obesity-related obstructive sleep apnoea — a condition where a person's breathing stops and starts while they sleep. Trials have also shown that it can improve lipid profile, and demonstrated a 20% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular as well as all cause death. 'There is no doubt that the medicines are effective for kidney and heart conditions. There is also evidence that has emerged about fatty liver disease. But, what I am most excited about are the happy neurological side effects. There seems to be some evidence to show that the medicines are associated with lower risk of Alzheimer's and other dementia,' Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman of endocrinology and diabetes at Max Healthcare, told The Indian Express. He added: 'Importantly, these drugs have reduced cravings in people. They are not only eating smaller meals but also healthier ones. Sweet cravings have gone down. There is also evidence to show that it helps with alcohol addiction.' Bolstered by the success of semaglutide and tirzepatide, several other drugs are now in the pipeline. 'There are a lot of drugs that are in the pipeline, including drugs with once-a-month dosing instead of every week and very effective oral pills,' Dr Mithal said. Trials are ongoing for drugs such as retatrutide that uses three targets: GLP-1RA and GIP used by its predecessor tirzepatide along with glucagon. There is also CagriSema that uses two targets GLP-1 RA and a new Amylin receptor agonist. Oral GLP-1 drugs such as orforglipron and danulipron may soon be available as well. Two other drugs, which use two targets GLP-1 RA and glucagon — Survodutide and Mazdutide are also in phase 3 clinical trials. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
