Latest news with #Rybelsus
Health Line
16 hours ago
- Health
- Health Line
Will Medicare Pay for the Pill Form of Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a prescription medication. Injectable forms of the drug are available under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. The pill form of semaglutide is available as the brand-name drug Rybelsus. Medicare drug plans usually cover Rybelsus when doctors prescribe it for type 2 diabetes. Medicare coverage of the pill form of semaglutide The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rybelsus, the pill form of semaglutide, to lower blood sugar levels when taken along with exercise and diet in people with type 2 diabetes. If you have a Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan with drug benefits, your plan may cover Rybelsus if your doctor prescribes it for this FDA-approved use. Every Medicare drug plan has a list of covered drugs called a formulary. Not all Medicare plans may cover Rybelsus. If you're unsure whether your plan may cover Rybelsus, check its formulary or contact a plan representative. Medicare coverage of semaglutide for weight loss Some doctors prescribe the pill form of semaglutide off-label to assist with weight loss. 'Off-label' use describes taking a drug for a purpose the FDA hasn't approved. Medicare doesn't cover drugs when people take them off-label. For this reason, it doesn't cover the pill form of semaglutide for weight loss.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
How novel weight loss drugs help 40-year-old lose 16 kg over a year: First she was on semaglutide pill, then Mounjaro shots
For the first time, 40-year-old Manmeet Bindra feels motivated to exercise and has set up a home gym, cleaned up her diet and has more energy to ride out her 10 am to 7 pm work days and the pressure of deadlines. Tired of seeing the weighing scale needle tipping over the 90 kg mark and her blood sugar levels spiral despite fad diets, gym routines and natural supplements, she is now 74 kg. For the past year, she had been on the oral weight loss drug semaglutide (Rybelsus) but since she couldn't tolerate its side effects well, has had better results with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) this year. 'I needed that one push to get off the weight plateau, steel my mind and focus on getting better and be disease-free. Mounjaro accelerated the process,' says Bindra, who has battled uncontrolled diabetes, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), hypothyroidism and fatty liver because of her weight. Her appetite has now gone down by 30-40 per cent, her binge cravings are zero and she has managed to tame the 'food noise' that made her peckish through the day. Food was not just her pleasure but escapism, something that Dr Jasjeet Singh Wasir, her endocrinologist and diabetologist at Medanta, understood when she consulted him last year. That's why he put her on a new class of weight loss drugs. Her blood sugar readings are better and her HbA1c (average blood sugar count of three months) has gone down from 8 per cent to 7.3 per cent (normal is less than 5.6 per cent). The new drugs are more than a life-saver for people like Bindra as they help them eliminate several obesity-related risk factors. The GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic natural gut hormones responsible for blood sugar and appetite control, such as semaglutide – the active ingredient in Wegovy. It improves secretion of insulin, inhibits glucose production in the liver and slows down digestion. Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, additionally mimics the GIP hormone, primarily by stimulating insulin release from the pancreas. GIP also influences lipid metabolism. THE INSIDIOUS WEIGHT GAIN Bindra never realised how a sedentary lifestyle, long work hours, performance anxiety and stress-eating had turned into belly fat. Then she gained weight all over. After developing Covid in 2020 and 2022, her random blood tests showed a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL and a HbA1c count of 5.8 per cent. In April 2023, during her executive health check-up, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as her HbA1c shot up to 8.4 per cent. Looking at her body weight, family history of diabetes and her dual role as professional and caregiver for her parents, Dr Wasir put her on oral semaglutide or Rybelsus pills, mainly to control her diabetes though it also helps in some weight loss. According to randomised controlled trials, one starts losing weight immediately after taking Rybelsus. After one month, the average weight loss on Rybelsus is around 2 kg; after two months, it's over 3 kg. THE SIDE EFFECTS OF A PILL 'I constantly had nausea, vomitting, diarrhoea, fatigue, constipation and headaches. My body simply did not take to semaglutide,' says Bindra. Then Dr Wasir put her on the injectable tirzepatide. 'Around 300 patients of mine on weight loss pills had extreme gastric symptoms. The same patients are tolerating the injectable Mounjaro better,' he says. Since Mounjaro mimics two hormones involved in appetite regulation and glucose control, this dual action may result in more significant weight loss and potentially better blood sugar control. This can indirectly improve overall tolerability. However, Dr Wasir attributes tolerability to the grading of doses. Most of his patients begin from 2.5 or 5 mg, which is a kind of stage one and stage two doses. Then it goes up to 7.5 mg and a maximum dose of 15 mg. 'It's still very early for us to arrive at an observation,' he says. BEGINNING WITH MOUNJARO Bindra started with a low 1.25 mg dose. Once she could tolerate it, Dr Wasir upgraded the dose to 2.5 mg. But at the same time, he insisted she make lifestyle changes, particularly her diet and exercise. 'I cut down on junk food, fried items and oily meals. I used to binge-eat when I was stressed and that's significantly reduced now. I am into plant proteins,' she adds. Now Bindra focusses on simple, home-cooked foods that keep her stomach happy. 'Looking back, that kick we seek in our food rather than exercising was the reason I always craved the spicier and heavier chole bhature or rajma rice. This dietary shift has influenced some of my health markers, too,' she says. Mounjaro has been an effective appetite suppressant. 'I used to eat two rotis but now I'm comfortable with one. I can portion-control. Interestingly, I no longer feel as hungry as before or feel dizzy. I have given up alcohol too, though I was nothing beyond a social drinker,' says Bindra. WATCH OUT FOR MUSCLE LOSS AFTER USING MOUNJARO For Dr Wasir, the key challenge remains her protein intake, now that she only has plant proteins. 'There's always a risk of muscle loss alongside fat loss, which can be hard to reverse. We're working on optimizing her protein intake to support muscle health during weight loss,' he adds. On her part, Bindra never misses her strength training sessions. 'I repeat it at every visit — your investment in muscle is as important as your medication,' says Dr Wasir. DO THE DRUGS NEED TO BE TAKEN INDEFINITELY? Dr Wasir says clinical trials for both semaglutide and tirzepatide have lasted between 72 and 88 weeks. But they don't provide a clear answer on how long treatment should continue. Trials show taking off the drug midway leads to weight regain. 'Based on current evidence, these medications appear to be intended for long-term use. As for long-term efficacy, we rely on two things: the duration of clinical trials and real-world experience after approval. For example, even if a drug was trialled for two years, if it has been used safely for five years since, we consider that seven years of practical experience,' he adds.
The Print
4 days ago
- Health
- The Print
Wegovy, the global sensation in obesity management, launched in India
Wegovy—which needs to be taken as a weekly injection—has semaglutide as an active pharmaceutical ingredient which delivers its full therapeutic strengths for complete obesity and weight management, even though low-dose semaglutide, under the brand name Rybelsus in the form of oral pills has been available in India since 2022. New Delhi: Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk's Corporate Vice-President and Managing Director, India, Vikrant Shrotriya Tuesday announced the launch of the firm's global blockbuster fat-busting drug Wegovy in India, months after the launch of another top selling obesity drug Mounjaro in the country by US based pharma giant Eli Lilly & Company. Semaglutide helps regulate blood sugar levels, and works by binding to receptors of the gut hormone Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). It contains a compound known as (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which mimics the naturally occurring gut hormone known to send signals of a full appetite to the brain. It is known to reduce body weight by around 15 percent after 68 weeks on average. The launch of the drug comes in India just before its patent is set to expire next year and various Indian drugmakers are set to launch its generic versions, promising to bring down the costs drastically. The largest-of-its-kind survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), which was released in 2023, said that 254 million Indians, or 28.6 percent of the population, had generalised obesity. Obesity has increasingly been recognised as the root cause of various non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular conditions, disorders of kidney and liver and various cancers, among others. Wegovy and Mounjaro are typically indicated for those who have body mass index of 30 and above under strict expert supervision, as these drugs are also associated with various side-effects. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Fat-busting drug Mounjaro launched in India. Here's how much it will cost
NDTV
5 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Are Mounjaro Jabs Safe? Mass Rollout Of Weight Loss Drug To Start In UK
For the first time, general practitioners (GPs) across the United Kingdom will be allowed to give prescriptions for a popular weight loss injection - Mounjaro, or tirzepatide. The drug, sometimes referred to as "skinny jabs", is an anti-diabetic drug made by the US-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. The company said that the drug saw a "positive" response in India. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) to monitor the mass rollout that will see around 220,000 people with the "greatest need" receive the weight loss jabs over the next three years. So far, people have been able to access the drug through a special weight loss service. Now, GPs can prescribe it to severely obese people and those who are suffering from other health problems. How does Mounjaro work? It slows down the process of food digestion and also lowers blood sugar, similar to other weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. Mounjaro is used to manage type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss. Its active ingredient, tirzepatide, works by activating two hormone receptors in the gut: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide). This dual mechanism helps regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. What are the potential side effects of Mounjaro? Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Digestive discomfort Injection site irritation Earlier this month, the UK government said that women taking popular medicines for weight loss and diabetes are being reminded to use "effective contraception" while taking these medicines. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said, "Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments. They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way." "Our guidance offers patients a "one stop shop" for our up-to-date advice on how to use these powerful medicines safely," Cave added. Mounjaro's positive response in India The US-based pharmaceutical company said that the drug saw a "positive" response in India and beat rival Novo Nordisk in March this year to introduce its diabetes and weight-loss drug in India. Data from research firm PharmaTrac revealed that Mounjaro has sold more than 81,570 units in India, totalling about 239.4 million rupees ($2.76 million) as of May. The drug logged a 60% rise in overall sales between April and May. "Since 2020, Lilly has invested over $50 billion to increase production capacity (for global supply). We remain fully committed to meeting the demand for our medicines across the country," the company said recently.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Eli Lilly's new oral weight loss pill works as well as injectables: Why this could be better than oral semaglutide?
The blockbuster weight loss drug, semaglutide, now has competition in orforglipron, which is just as safe as injectable alternatives and more effectively lowers HbA1c (average blood sugar count of three months) in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The best part. No injections required — just a daily pill. The investigational once-daily pill by US manufacturer Eli Lilly lowered HbA1C by an average of 1.3% to 1.6% across doses, with improvements seen as early as four weeks, in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to Phase 3 results of the ACHIEVE-1 trials, published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Orforglipron also led to an average weight loss of 16.0 lbs or 7.3 kg (7.9%) at the highest dose by week 40. 'The efficacy, safety, and tolerability are really consistent with the very best injectable GLP-1s,' Kenneth Custer, president of cardiometabolic health at Eli Lilly, was quoted as saying. Why is orforglipron effective? Orforglipron and semaglutide are both GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic the effects of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite and slow down gastric emptying. But while orforglipron is non-peptide, semaglutide is a peptide. Peptides are smaller than proteins, while non-peptides encompass a wider range of chemical compounds with diverse structures and functions. 'Orforglipron, being a non-peptide, is a smaller molecule. This allows better absorption of the drug through the gut. They don't get broken down as easily by digestive enzymes. Hence the efficacy,' says Dr Anoop Misra, chairman, diabetes and endocrinology, Fortis C-Doc. What are the advantages of orforglipron over semaglutide? Orforglipron is an oral pill taken once daily, while semaglutide is available as both an oral tablet (Rybelsus) and a subcutaneous injection (Ozempic, Wegovy). 'Previous oral GLP-1s like semaglutide (Rybelsus) are peptide-based and have significant limitations — they must be taken on an empty stomach with minimal water and have much lower bioavailability than injectable form. Orforglipron is a small molecule that doesn't require food or water restrictions, so it is very convenient and is absorbed easily,' says Dr Misra. What about the trial results? At 40 weeks, all three doses (3 mg, 12 mg, 36 mg) of orforglipron achieved the primary goal of superior HbA1C reduction. Improvements in HbA1C were observed as early as four weeks and were accompanied by similar reductions in fasting serum glucose. 'The early onset of glycemic improvement, observed as soon as four weeks, reinforces the therapeutic potential of orforglipron as an effective, oral GLP-1 therapy for early type 2 diabetes treatment. These findings support further investigation in broader populations and longer-duration studies,' said Dr Julio Rosenstock, senior scientific advisor for Velocity Clinical Research at Medical City Dallas, clinical professor of medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and lead trial investigator. What about side effects? In the study, orforglipron had a safety profile similar to the established GLP-1 class of medication. The most frequently reported adverse events were gastrointestinal-related.
