GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic Revolutionize Obesity Treatment and Redraw the Global Pharmaceutical Market

Danish company Novo Nordisk and American company Eli Lilly have launched an unprecedented wave in obesity research through GLP-1 class drugs, as Semaglutide (brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) demonstrated an ability to reduce patient weight by between 15 and 22% in clinical trials, outperforming any previous medication.

The benefits of these drugs extend to reducing cardiovascular disease risks by 20% according to a study published by The Lancet, while research is underway to use their derivatives in treating addiction disorders, kidney disease, and fatty liver disease.

These drugs face fundamental obstacles, most notably high costs, with the price of a monthly dose exceeding $1,000 in the United States, alongside supply shortages and health insurance companies being forced to review their coverage, raising an intense debate over healthcare equity.

Doctors warn that the medications require radical lifestyle changes to achieve sustainable results, pointing out that weight returns upon stopping the drug in most cases, and that the real challenge lies in finding a comprehensive treatment system that combines medication with behavioral change and psychological support.

What do these terms mean?

GLP-1 Drugs (Glucagon Agonists): A class of medications that mimic the GLP-1 hormone secreted by the digestive system to stimulate insulin secretion, slow gastric emptying, and reduce appetite; originally used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Morbid Obesity: A medical term for a condition where the body mass index exceeds 40 kg/m², usually accompanied by chronic diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, and sleep apnea, requiring radical medical intervention.

Body Mass Index (BMI): A formula that calculates a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters, used as a primary standard to classify weight, although it does not accurately reflect fat distribution or muscle mass.