New weight loss drugs including Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy and others have been making huge headlines lately. These medications originally intended as type 2 diabetes treatments have been associated with side effects that include losing bodyweight, and the FDA in the United States, Health Canada in Canada, and other national regulating bodies have been rapidly reviewing them for use as obesity treatments too.
New Weight Loss Drugs Will See Huge Sales
The wave of new weight loss drugs is the latest gold rush in the pharmaceutical industry. Companies are scrambling to get their products out there, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given them a rapid review to provide Americans with a new option to help overcome the obesity epidemic.
When it comes to new weight loss drugs, the big names in the headlines right now are Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Ozempic’s modified sister medication, Wegovy.
What’s in a Name?
Mounjaro isn’t anything new in the US or Canada. It is already approved in both countries as a type 2 diabetes drug. That said, it is expected to receive approval very soon in the US as an obesity treatment following the FDA’s rapid review. So far, studies indicate that this product offers the greatest weight reduction among the three new weight loss drugs in the headlines.
Still, Ozempic (semaglutide), also a type 2 diabetes medication, and Wegovy, the altered version of that drug intended specifically for obesity treatment, also offer promising results according to studies.
Will These New Weight Loss Drugs End Obesity?
According to many experts, new weight loss drugs are certainly promising help to many people. These medications are taken by injection and can benefit patients who have been struggling to overcome their obesity.
Whether they will live up to the hype of creating a country – or even eventually a world – where obesity doesn’t exist has yet to be seen. It is important to keep in mind that there remain many factors to consider that would make these options inappropriate for many patients. Furthermore, as helpful as they can be, their benefits are not universal. Results will vary from one person to the next.
Experts are recommending that dialing down the hype is a good idea at the moment. Keeping in mind that there are 650 million people worldwide suffering from obesity, a portion of them will not be able to take this medication or – when considering the price tag associated with it – may not be able to afford it. Moreover, there has yet to be a great deal to learn about the use of these medications for this purpose.
New weight loss drugs are certainly something to be excited about. If they live up to their claims, they will offer many people a new way to treat their obesity. They could make a substantial difference in cutting into this epidemic. That said, it is unrealistic to believe that they are the solution to this disease on the widespread scale the hype is suggesting.
