Latest news with #GLP1drugs
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
ANNE ASHWORTH asks if it's worth investing in weight-loss drugs
There is a bottomless appetite for news about weight-loss drugs. We cannot hear enough about the celebrities, politicians and tycoons – including Elon Musk, Boris Johnson, Sharon Osbourne and Oprah Winfrey – who have used Ozempic or Mounjaro. In Britain, such has been the increase in uptake of these GLP-1 drugs that supermarket sales are shrinking. Sometimes this kind of coverage can have a wider message for investors. Public figures' reliance on 'fat jabs' underlines the forecast that the global market for these products could grow from the current $30billion (£22.4billion) to more than $150billion by the end of the decade, as millions seek a route out of obesity. So could you add weight to your portfolio by taking a slice of Eli Lilly, the US maker of Mounjaro, which is now being prescribed by GPs? Or should you opt for Novo Nordisk, the Danish giant that produced blockbuster brands Ozempic and Wegovy? An opportunity could lie in the weakness of shares of these ground-breaking businesses. Over the past year, Eli Lilly is down 13 per cent and Novo Nordisk has tumbled by 53 per cent. Will James, manager of the Guinness European Equity Income Fund, says: 'Novo Nordisk has been in the eye of the storm of late and its fall from grace has been impressive.' The two companies are battling not only against each other, but also with rival start-ups against a tense political background in the US. This is the largest market for weight-loss drugs, but US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr is not a fan. He wants to drive down the cost of all drugs. But he also believes that overeating is not the prime cause of obesity. He said: 'American kids did not suddenly get gluttonous and lazy – something is poisoning them.' Kennedy points the finger at the food companies. Although his assertions may not have any basis in fact, firms in this industry are already concerned about the impact of fat jabs on eating habits. The consultancy company Kantar says that lower supermarket sales have coincided with increased uptake of GLP-1 treatments. A year ago, 2.3 per cent of UK households had one member using GLP-1. It now stands at 4.1 per cent. NOVO NORDISK A bet on Novo Nordisk is a gamble on a corporate comeback. Almost exactly a year ago, the shares – priced in DKK, or Danish krone – were at their peak of Kr.1,208, against Kr.441. The pharmaceutical giant, set up a century ago, was greater in size than the Danish economy, and had become what James describes as 'the flag bearer for Europe's sometimes-doubted ability to innovate'. Today, Novo Nordisk looks more vulnerable than all-conquering. So much so that the activist hedge fund Parvus Asset Management has been amassing a stake, presumably to force a shake-up. Also pressing for change is the largest shareholder, the Novo Foundation. This follows the unseating in May of Novo Nordisk's chief executive Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, only the fifth person to have held this role in the company's history. His departure was spurred by Eli Lilly's rapid seizure of market share in the US, where Mounjaro is the most-prescribed drug. Novo Nordisk remains the global leader, however. The problems began last year when Novo Nordisk could not satisfy demand for its drugs, leading to a damaging surge in 'compounding'. Under this arrangement, pharmacies can mix cheap copycat versions of drugs: the customers of US online telehealth companies, such as Hims & Hers Health, proved to be more than keen on 'Ozempic dupes'. The situation was exacerbated by the poor performance in a trial of new weight-loss treatment CagriSema. But Novo Nordisk is trying to shift the perception of the drug with its additional cardiovascular benefits. Meanwhile, Amycretin, another new-generation drug, appears to be delivering results superior to Mounjaro. Amycretin is administered as a once-weekly injection and a daily pill. A few months ago there may have been speculation that Novo Nordisk could turn out to be the pharmaceutical equivalent of MySpace – the pre-eminent social media site that sank into obscurity when Facebook emerged. However, in recent weeks the pessimism surrounding the company has lessened. James says: 'This is a high-quality, high-return business with an impressive track record of success and improving people's lives.' The shares are on a p/e ratio (a guide to value) of 17 times earnings. At the height of Novo Nordisk's hype, this was 40 times. This upbeat assessment is shared by brokers. In the past few days, Barclays, Deutsche, JP Morgan and UBS have reiterated their 'buy' recommendations. ELI LILLY Eli Lilly might be best known for Mounjaro, but its pipeline includes cancer and diabetes drugs and products for Alzheimer's and Crohn's disease. Established in 1876, it has also just snapped up the gene-editing start-up Verve Therapeutics for $1.3billion as a way to expand beyond weight-loss drugs, while making the most of its expertise in this area. If approval is forthcoming, Eli Lilly plans to launch Orforglipron, a once-a-day pill, next year. This represents considerable progress for a business once most-closely associated with the anxiety medication Prozac, which is no longer manufactured. The scope of Eli Lilly's range evidently inspires confidence, since 17 of the 29 analysts that follow the company rate the shares a buy with an average target price of $951, against the current $780. Putting some money into Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk makes sense if you are diversifying your portfolio this summer and want to invest in innovation. However, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly face huge competition, with about 150 rival products in development. Not all are guaranteed immediate success. This week, for example, shares in the US pharmaceutical company Amgen slipped by 6 per cent on news that its MariTide weight-loss injectable caused vomiting. Novo Nordisk is one of the top ten holdings at the giant Fundsmith fund. However, its portfolio no longer includes the drinks group Diageo, in a wider shift triggered by the impact of weight-loss drugs. Companies such as Associated British Foods, McDonald's, Mondelez, Nestle, PepsiCo, Tate & Lyle and Unilever are aware of the need to adapt as consumers move away from alcohol, confectionery, fizzy drinks and snacks. They must shape up for the fat-jab age – or face investors' ire.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Pancreatitis: The life-threatening reaction linked to weight loss injections
The medicines regulator is investigating after hundreds of people have reported problems with their pancreas linked to taking weight loss and diabetes jabs. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Genomics England have launched the Yellow Card Biobank project to examine whether cases of pancreatitis linked to GLP-1 drugs may be influenced by people's genetic makeup. New MHRA data shows that since the drugs were licensed, there have been hundreds of cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis among people taking GLP-1 medicines. Some cases of pancreatitis reported to be linked to GLP-1 medicines (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) have also been fatal. The cases reported include: 181 reported cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to tirzepatide – the active ingredient for Mounjaro. 116 reported reactions of this kind linked to liraglutide. 113 cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to semaglutide – the active ingredient for Ozempic and Wegovy. 101 reported reactions of this kind linked to exenatide. 52 reported reactions of this sort linked to dulaglutide and 11 reported reactions to lixisenatide. The fatalities reported include: Five people died following acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to tirzepatide. One person died following reported reactions of this kind linked to liraglutide. One person died following reported reactions of this kind linked to semaglutide. Three people died following reported reactions of this kind linked to exenatide. These cases are not confirmed as being caused by the medicines, but the person who reported them suspected they may be. Acute pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas - a small organ behind the stomach that helps with digestion - becomes inflamed over a short period of time. While it typically resolves within about a week, some people with severe acute pancreatitis can go on to develop serious complications. The NHS says the most common symptoms of acute pancreatitis include sudden, severe abdominal pain, feeling or being sick and a fever or high temperature of 38C or more. Chronic pancreatitis, on the other hand, is when the organ becomes permanently damaged from inflammation, and typically occurs after one or more attacks of acute pancreatitis. The most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis is repeated episodes of severe abdominal pain, particularly in the middle or left side, which can move along your back. It is described as a burning or shooting pain that comes and goes. However, as the condition progresses, the painful episodes may become more frequent and severe. Signs of advanced chronic pancreatitis include weight loss, a loss of appetite, jaundice, other symptoms associated with diabetes and ongoing nausea and vomiting. The MHRA is calling for people who are taking GLP-1 medicine and have been admitted to hospital due to acute pancreatitis to submit a report to its Yellow Card scheme. GLP-1 agonists can lower blood sugar levels in people living with type 2 diabetes and can also be prescribed to support some people with weight loss. Recent estimates suggest that about 1.5 million people in the UK are taking weight loss jabs. The most common side effects, which may affect more than 1 in 10 patients, are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea, according to the MHRA. These are more likely to occur at the start of treatment or after a recent increase in dose. While manageable, they can sometimes lead to more serious complications such as severe dehydration and kidney damage. In 2024, the MHRA warned of other serious but less common side effects of GLP-1RAs, including pancreatitis and gall bladder disorders, which may occur in between 1 in 100 and 1 in 10,000 patients. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can also occur in non-diabetic patients using some GLP-1RAs for weight management. Professor Matt Brown, chief scientific officer of Genomics England, said that like all medicines, 'there can be a risk of serious side effects'. 'We believe there is real potential to minimise these, with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause. 'This next step in our partnership with the MHRA will generate data and evidence for safer and more effective treatment through more personalised approaches to prescription, supporting a shift towards an increasingly prevention-focused healthcare system.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Ozempic-like fat jabs taken by millions linked to 560 cases of killer side effect and 10 deaths, health officials warn
FAT jabs have been linked to hundreds of people falling ill with a life-threatening illness and 10 deaths, the UK's drug watchdog has warned. Brits have reported falling seriously ill with pancreatitis, a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed, after taking popular weight loss and diabetes drugs. 1 Fresh figures from the UK's medicines regulator reveal more than 560 suspected cases of the illness linked to so-called GLP-1 drugs, which include Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic. At least ten of these cases were fatal, although it's not clear the drugs were directly to blame. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says the reports have triggered a new investigation into whether people's genes could make them more vulnerable to side effects. Since the drugs were approved for use, 181 cases of pancreatitis have been linked to tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, including five deaths. Another 113 cases have been linked to semaglutide, found in Wegovy and Ozempic, with one fatality. Liraglutide, another weight loss jab, has been tied to 116 suspected cases and one death. Exenatide has been linked to 101 cases, including three deaths, while dulaglutide and lixisenatide have been associated with 63 cases in total, with no known fatalities. The MHRA said these are suspected adverse reactions reported by patients, carers or doctors and there is no firm evidence that the jabs directly caused the deaths. Pancreatitis can also develop in people who don't take these drugs, and is often triggered by gallstones or alcohol. However, regulators believe there could be a genetic link in some patients, and are now launching a study to investigate. The Yellow Card Biobank project, set up with Genomics England, is calling on anyone who has been admitted to hospital with pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 drug to come forward and provide a saliva sample for analysis. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA's chief safety officer, said: "Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing, it is predicted that adverse drug reactions could cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospital stays alone. "Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions - enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic makeup. "To help us help you, we're asking anyone who has been hospitalised with acute pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 medicine to report this to us via our Yellow Card scheme. "Even if you don't meet the criteria for this phase of the Biobank study, information about your reaction to a medication is always extremely valuable in helping to improve patient safety." Pancreatitis is a painful condition that causes severe stomach pain, vomiting and fever. Acute cases usually clear up with fluids and oxygen in hospital, but around five per cent are fatal or cause lasting damage. Despite the risks, experts say the drugs are still safe and effective for most patients. They help control blood sugar, trigger rapid weight loss, and cut the risk of dying from heart disease by around a fifth in people with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Roughly 1.5million people in the UK are now taking GLP-1 drugs, which have been hailed by some as game-changers in the fight against obesity. But health officials warn they are not a silver bullet and can come with side effects, most commonly nausea, constipation and diarrhoea. The MHRA also recently warned that Mounjaro could reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill in some patients. Professor Matt Brown, chief scientific officer of Genomics England, said: "GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have been making headlines, but like all medicines there can be a risk of serious side effects. "We believe there is real potential to minimise these with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause. "This next step in our partnership with the MHRA will generate data and evidence for safer and more effective treatment through more personalised approaches to prescription, supporting a shift towards an increasingly prevention-focused healthcare system." Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Weight-loss jabs linked to hundreds of cases of life-threatening illness and 10 deaths
Weight-loss jabs have been linked to hundreds of people falling ill with a life-threatening illness and 10 deaths, the UK's drugs regulator has warned. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is investigating after 294 people suffered acute and chronic pancreatitis after taking tirzepatide, the ingredient of Mounjaro, and semaglutide, used in Ozempic and Wegovy. While none have been proven to be caused directly by the GLP-1 drugs, which are also used to treat diabetes, there are fears that not enough is known about the links, prompting health officials to launch a new study into the harmful side effects. It comes just days after Mounjaro was made available at GP surgeries across England, while Ozempic and Wegovy can be obtained on the NHS through a weight management referral; however, Mounjaro and Wegovy can be purchased online privately. It's believed around 1.5 million people currently take weight-loss jabs – 4 per cent of households in the UK – with their popularity soaring and the NHS's top doctor, Sir Stephen Powis, saying they could soon become the most commonly used drug. But experts have voiced caution. Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, said: 'The percentages for pancreatitis seen in clinical trials was small, but we know that many people are now purchasing these medications privately. Small percentages in large numbers means an increasing number of people developing these conditions, although they still remain rare.' However, Dr Cork said it was important to recognise that the risks associated with obesity outweighed those attached to taking the medications. He added: 'For the vast majority of people, these drugs will help with weight loss and are overwhelmingly safe. For a small number of people, significant side effects will occur, and it's important to ensure that people are being monitored by their healthcare professionals.' Among those who could have suffered a side effect of Mounjaro is Julie Bishop, 55, who was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis after taking the drug to lose weight. Although it hasn't been proven that the drug caused the condition, she has called on users to understand the risks involved. She told The Independent: 'I know a lot of people who take it, so I wasn't initially concerned over using it. I think it'd help if it was explained to people how important their organs, such as the pancreas, are to the body, and the damage a side effect can really cause. 'I'd be tempted to go back on it, but only through the NHS. I think these drugs should only really be coming to the public through the NHS, potentially by paying for it, because of the risks involved.' The MHRA's findings come from medical reports of adverse incidents after patients took GLP-1 medicines. While the use of weight-loss jabs may have been coincidental to an illness or death rather than responsible for it, the voluntary process of the records could also mean the issue is underreported. The figures also revealed that there were 116 reported cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to liraglutide, one of which was fatal, and 101 reported cases linked to exenatide, three of which were fatal. Five deaths were linked to tirzepatide and one to semaglutide. There were also 52 reported cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to dulaglutide and 11 to lixisenatide. It means that a total of 10 deaths were linked to the GLP-1 medicines. As a result, the MHRA is launching a study of those with pancreatitis linked to GLP-1 drugs, to find out if it may be influenced by genetic make-up. It is calling on people to flag any side effects through a Yellow Card Biobank project, run alongside Genomics England. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA's chief safety officer, said: 'Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing. It is predicted that adverse drug reactions could cost the NHS more than £2.2bn a year in hospital stays alone. 'Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions – enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic make-up.' Last year, a research team from the University of British Columbia in Canada found that those using weight-loss jabs could increase the risk of 'severe gastrointestinal problems', including inflammation of the pancreas. Author Mohit Sodhi said that although the events were rare, the adverse side effects 'must be considered by patients thinking about using them for weight loss'. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence lists pancreatitis as a possible side effect of Mounjaro, which it recommends the NHS use for managing obesity in patients who also go on a reduced-calorie diet alongside increased physical activity. A spokesperson for Lilly, which manufactures Mounjaro, told The Independent that patient safety was its top priority and said it actively monitored and reported safety information on its medicines. They said that adverse incidents after taking drugs could be caused by other factors, including pre-existing conditions. They added: 'The Mounjaro patient information leaflet warns that inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) is an uncommon side effect (which may affect up to 1 in 100 people). It also advises patients to talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional before using Mounjaro if they have ever had pancreatitis. 'We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.'
Reuters
3 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
Exclusive: New data show most US patients now stay on Wegovy, Zepbound after a year
LOS ANGELES, June 25 (Reuters) - Nearly two-thirds of patients who started on weight-loss drugs Wegovy or Zepbound last year were still taking them a year later, according to an analysis of U.S. pharmacy claims. That level of persistence is higher than what prior analyses have shown, suggesting that more patients might be staying on the popular GLP-1 drugs for obesity as product shortages ease, insurance coverage expands and doctors manage side effects better, health experts say. Sixty-three percent of patients starting on Novo Nordisk's ( opens new tab Wegovy or Eli Lilly's (LLY.N), opens new tab Zepbound during the first quarter of 2024 were still taking them 12 months later. For Wegovy, that was up significantly from 40% who started therapy in 2023 and 34% who began three years ago in this analysis by Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM). Patrick Gleason, Prime's assistant vice president for health outcomes and a co-author of the analysis, said he was surprised to see persistence rise above 50%. "It's a near doubling from one-third persistent to roughly two-thirds now," Gleason said. "This is a dramatic change, and I believe this is more reflective of what we will see going forward." Zepbound's results were relatively unchanged year over year, though the number of U.S. patients starting on the medication in 2023 was limited since it did not launch until November of that year. Wegovy was approved in June 2021. The analysis shared with Reuters does not include details about why patients continued or stopped therapy. Some people have reported stopping because the drugs became unaffordable or their insurance no longer covered them. Others quit due to common gastrointestinal side effects, inability to get refills due to supply shortages or achievement of their weight-loss goal, among other factors. Studies have shown that most patients who quit their GLP-1 drugs usually regain most of the weight. The medications may require extended use to yield meaningful benefits for patients' health. Many employers and government agencies remain wary of adding coverage for these highly effective, but expensive medicines due to the significant upfront investment and uncertainty about any future savings. Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, co-director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, said low persistence on these weight-loss drugs had been concerning and the new data might indicate that increased insurance coverage is helping to turn the tide. Novo declined to comment on the data, and Lilly did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prime is owned by 19 U.S. Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance plans and manages pharmacy benefits for about 73 million people. In its analysis, Prime reviewed pharmacy and medical claims for 23,025 people with commercial health plans who received prescriptions for either Wegovy or Zepbound and had a diagnosis of obesity. Prime excluded patients with a diabetes diagnosis in their medical claims or who were using a drug for type 2 diabetes, for which these GLP-1 medicines were originally developed. The mean age of patients in the year-over-year analysis was 46 and 77% were female. Patients were deemed persistent with their medication if they had no 60-day gaps in supply. The data allowed for switching among GLP-1 products. The data does not include patients who took compounded versions of the weight-loss drugs or paid for their prescription out of pocket outside of insurance. Prime also did a separate analysis of longer-term use. Only 14% of patients were still taking Wegovy after three years, the data show. That was a drop from 24% on Wegovy at the two-year mark. That longer-term analysis examined 5,780 patients who had remained enrolled in their health insurance for three years and did not have type 2 diabetes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration removed semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, from its shortage list earlier this year and did the same for tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, in December. Those moves eventually barred compounding pharmacies from making cheaper copies of the weight-loss drugs. Some patients have purchased these weight-loss medications directly from the drugmakers outside of their health insurance. Those prescriptions were not tracked in this analysis and that cohort of patients may behave differently, said David Lassen, Prime's vice president of clinical pharmacy services. "That group could have a different adherence pattern," Lassen said. "That's something we want to continue to watch."
