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☆ How promising are new drugs to treat obesity?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly announced last week that a medication developed to treat diabetes, tirzepatide, also had a substantial effect on reducing weight. Another pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, manufactures the medication semaglutide, which the FDA has already approved to treat diabetes under the brand name Ozempic and to treat obesity under the brand name Wegovy. How promising are they to treat obesity? CNN: How promising are these drugs to treat obesity? It is really important to treat obesity as the disease that it is — and having effective medications to do so is crucial.

☆ Novo Nordisk rivals see room to compete in $100 billion weight-loss drug market
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The company has two oral GLP-1 drugs in mid-stage trials, and aims to choose one for a late-stage trial this year. He forecasts GLP-1s or similar drugs topping $100 billion in annual sales early in the 2030s, with Lilly's product accounting for more than $50 billion in sales. Smaller biotechs are also vying for a piece of the obesity market and hope large pharmaceutical companies will pay up for partnerships. "I don't know if it's $90 billion or $80 billion or $50 billion. The current GLP-1 drugs can cause nausea and vomiting.

☆ Obesity is a chronic disease. It's why treating it will be so profitable unless payers push back
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Lilly manufactures tirzepatide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro as a type 2 diabetes treatment. It's the chronic nature of obesity that will make these drugs so profitable, analysts have said. Huynh increased his target due to higher expectations for Mounjaro sales this year. Huynh boosted his prediction for the drug's sales this year to $3.7 billion from an prior estimate of $2.7 billion. "$48 billion is a monster number," Holz said, referring to an annual sales estimate that Bank of America has floated for future Mounjaro sales.

☆ Medicare is prohibited from covering weight-loss drugs — Ozempic could change that
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Medicare is prohibited from covering new weight-loss medications. Medicare, the federal program that covers healthcare for people 65 and older, is prohibited by law from covering any weight-loss medications. That includes looking at programs that test out Medicare coverage and proposed limits to coverage, The Journal reports. The future of the $100 billion weight-loss drugs marketExpanding Medicare coverage to new weight-loss medications could drastically change how Americans access the drugs. Meanwhile, other Americans will continue to go to Canada, Mexico, and unregulated online pharmacies to get the weight-loss medications for cheap.

☆ What Is Ozempic and Why Is It Such a Big Deal Right Now?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Peter Loftus | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Illustration: Elizabeth SmelovA drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat people with Type 2 diabetes has ignited a craze among social-media influencers, the rich and famous and everyday people alike. Ozempic, made by Novo Nordisk A/S, has gained popularity for its off-label use, helping users drop excess pounds within a matter of months. Demand has soared for Ozempic as well its sister drug, Wegovy, and Eli Lilly & Co.’s Mounjaro. Ozempic’s main ingredient, known as semaglutide, is in Wegovy, which was approved by the FDA in 2021 to treat obesity. Lilly’s Mounjaro, whose main ingredient is tirzepatide, was approved by the FDA in 2022 to treat diabetes, though it has also been used for weight loss.

☆ Credit Suisse upgrades Novo Nordisk on 'surprise' growth of obesity and diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Credit Suisse upgraded Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to outperform from neutral on Thursday, citing growth in its obesity and diabetes drugs. "Rx trends for both Ozempic and Wegovy YTD have been a major surprise and have significantly outperformed our expectations," he wrote. Now that Wegovy is back in supply, Credit Suisse had expected a potential slowdown in growth for Ozempic. Instead, while there has been a rise in new patients taking Wegovy, Ozempic is continuing to see growth, Dunn said. "Novo sees growth being driven by penetration in diabetes rather than off-label obesity use, which is backed up by the fact the Ozempic growth has accelerated despite re-supply of Wegovy for Obesity," he said.

☆ The 13 startups to watch in the $100 billion market for buzzy new weight-loss drugs like Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Healthcare startups are launching to prescribe weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic. They're chasing what's projected to be a $100 billion market for the drugs. Venture-backed health startups are vying for a piece of the booming market for new prescription drugs designed to help with weight loss. Many startups offering weight-loss drugs have flooded social media platforms with ads for the shots. Insider rounded up 13 venture-backed startups competing for customers in the lucrative GLP-1 weight-loss market, listed from least to most funding raised.

☆ I tried intermittent fasting like Elon Musk. I felt bad when I broke my fast, but food had never tasted so good.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I tried intermittent fasting for a month, and I felt less tired and more productive at work. I talked to the fitness coach Farren Morgan, who explained that intermittent fasting focuses on when — not what — you eat. "Most people find it easy to stick to this particular fasting plan because it's achievable and sustainable long-term," he said. He advised anyone considering intermittent fasting to first consult their doctor, especially if they have a preexisting medical condition. A study published in the National Library of Medicine actually found that, for some people, intermittent fasting reduced fatigue.

☆ 13 startups vying for a slice of the $100 billion market for buzzy new weight-loss drugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

☆ EU backs use of Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug in adolescents
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 31 (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency said on Friday its committee has recommended expanding the use of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO) weight loss drug in adolescents aged 12 years and older. Novo's Wegovy, a semaglutide-based drug, activates GLP-1, a hormone that triggers the feeling of fullness in the body after eating. It has been approved in the U.S. and European Union for treatment of obesity in adults. The company did not indicate a timeline for its plans to launch the drug, already available in Denmark and Norway, in other EU countries. Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommended use of weight-loss drugs in children aged 12 years or older.

☆ People taking obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy gain weight once they stop medication
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Patients taking blockbuster obesity drugs Ozempic or Wegovy will pack the pounds back on after they stop taking the medications. Studies have similarly shown weight rebound in people who stop taking Ozempic. So has Ozempic, which was first authorized to treat diabetes and is now being used off-label for weight loss. The shortage and other factors like out-of-pocket costs without insurance or unpleasant side effects have forced some people to stop taking Ozempic or Wegovy. Conde-Knape said so far data indicate that weight loss is maintained with long-term use of the drugs.

☆ Americans desperate for the hot weight-loss drug Ozempic are turning to Canada and Mexico because they can't afford it at home
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

She found CanShipMeds.com, one of many websites that says it ships a similar drug, Ozempic, from Canada at a lower cost. Delp is hardly the only American searching for weight-loss drugs across the border in Canada or Mexico. Medicare, the federal program that provides health coverage for people 65 and older, doesn't cover weight-loss drugs at all, though there's a push to change that. People are looking to Canada and Mexico for cheaper OzempicCrystal Cox/Business InsiderUntil insurance coverage improves, people will look abroad to afford the weight-loss drugs. Want to tell us about your experience with weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro?

☆ Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic back in supply in US after months of shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 17 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO) best-selling diabetes treatment drug Ozempic is back on the shelves in the United States after months of shortage, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website showed on Friday. The main active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, also the key ingredient in Novo's obesity drug Wegovy, which has been seeing supply shortage due to high demand. The company said the 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and the 1 mg doses of Ozempic are available for patients. The 2 mg dose, however, has limited availability until the end of this month, largely due to the demand coupled with overall global supply constraints. "While product continues to be manufactured and shipped, patients in some areas of the country will experience delays with the 2mg dose," Novo Nordisk said.

☆ How buzzy weight-loss drugs like Ozempic became the next craze in the hottest part of healthcare
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Healthcare companies are launching programs left and right to prescribe trendy weight-loss drugs. And Ro, a startup that prescribes and sells products like Viagra and hair-loss pills to consumers, is going all in with a program it launched in January to prescribe the weight-loss drugs to patients online. CalibrateFirst developed to manage type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 medications regulate blood-sugar levels, which can help people curb cravings and feel fuller after eating. The weight-loss market for GLP-1 drugs is relatively new, and not everyone is on board. But for some companies, stepping into prescribing these new weight-loss medications seems to simply be the natural next step for growth.

☆ Why buzzy weight-loss drugs are the next craze for healthcare startups
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Rebecca Torrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Healthcare companies are launching programs left and right to prescribe trendy weight-loss drugs. And Ro, a startup that prescribes and sells products like Viagra and hair-loss pills to consumers, is going all in with a program it launched in January to prescribe the weight-loss drugs to patients online. Even startups like Noom, which quietly started a program prescribing GLP-1 medications, could stand to benefit from the drugs' popularity after a tumultuous year for the startup. The weight-loss market for GLP-1 drugs is relatively new, and not everyone is on board. But for some companies, stepping into prescribing these new weight-loss medications seems to simply be the natural next step for growth.

☆ I tried intermittent fasting like Elon Musk. My weight hasn't drastically changed, but the other benefits surprised me.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Elon Musk said last year he lost weight through intermittent fasting and lifting weights. I talked to the fitness coach Farren Morgan, who explained that intermittent fasting focuses on when — not what — you eat. "Most people find it easy to stick to this particular fasting plan because it's achievable and sustainable long-term," he said. He advised anyone considering intermittent fasting to first consult their doctor, especially if they have a preexisting medical condition. A study published in the National Library of Medicine actually found that, for some people, intermittent fasting reduced fatigue.

☆ Noom quietly started writing prescriptions for trendy new weight-loss drugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The popular weight-loss app Noom quietly launched a new program that offers some users access to prescription anti-obesity medications. Called Noom Clinical, the program is meant to "build additional support" for app users, a company spokesperson said in a statement to Insider. Startups like Noom want to capitalize on a surge in demand for new weight-loss drugsSaeju Jeong, Co-founder & CEO, Noom Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images)Noom's foray into prescribing medication comes as demand for weight-loss drugs surges. NoomNoom, which introduced its weight loss app in 2017, is backed by venture firm Oak HC/FT and private-equity giant Silver Lake. According to the spokesperson, Noom began rolling out the new prescription-drug program to a small number of users in the fall.

☆ WeightWatchers is buying a company that lets you pay $99 a month to see a doctor on video and get a prescription to popular weight-loss drug Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

WeightWatchers announced Monday it was buying Sequence, a clinical weight management platform. Members will get Sequence's services including telehealth visits and prescriptions for weight loss drugs like Ozempic. Through Sequence's $99-a-month subscription program, customers can schedule telehealth appointments with doctors who will prescribe weight loss and diabetes management drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. "As science advances rapidly, we know there is a significant opportunity to improve outcomes for those using medications," WeightWatchers' CEO Sima Sistani said in a press release. Doctors are even adding the hashtags to videos that are about weight loss solutions that don't rely on those medications.

☆ Under threat, Weight Watchers enters obesity drug space. Here's what it means for the stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The company's sales have been in a steady multiyear decline after an attempt to de-emphasize weight loss and focus on wellness failed miserably. WW 1Y mountain The parent of Weight Watchers has seen its market value shrink as sales have dropped for several years. Another drug, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, adds a second incretin hormone to the mix and has been shown to be even more successful with weight loss. This trend could provide an opportunity for the core Weight Watchers brand and its focus on behavior modification. That scenario assumes Weight Watchers continues to see membership erosion, while cost controls help minimize margin compression.

☆ Workers are clamoring for pricey new weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. Companies are grappling with how to respond.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Companies that pay for workers' health insurance are grappling with how to cover the pricey drugs. Medicare, the federal program that provides health coverage for people 65 and older, doesn't cover weight-loss drugs. ArcBest already has a program to help workers lose weight through behavior changes and nutrition. Krutsch said he wants to build on that, covering the weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Saxenda for employees who aren't able to lose weight without medication. The new weight-loss drugs were in short supply in 2022, and that gave employers time to figure out how to handle them, he said.

☆ Clinics are trying to sell trendy weight-loss injections by flooding TikTok with videos about semaglutide
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The video, which has nearly 60,000 likes, is among a proliferation of TikTok posts tagged with the names of semaglutide weight-loss drugs, including Wegovy and Ozempic. "What drives the video to go viral is if you can generate some kind of discussion," he told Insider. Unlike official ads, partnerships, or promotions, TikTok posts receive little oversight from government agencies or medical boards. All four said the TikTok posts are driving an influx of patients to their clinics. Oden told Insider that her videos are "drumming up quite a bit of new business" among patients of all ages.

☆ What Happens When You Stop Taking Ozempic?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Alex Janin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The popularity of Ozempic, used to lose weight or manage diabetes, has surged in recent months. Hundreds of thousands of people take Wegovy or Ozempic to lose weight or manage diabetes. The drugs’ main ingredient is semaglutide. It was originally prescribed for long-term diabetes management and attracted widespread attention because it can spur significant weight loss. Sales of Wegovy, the brand of semaglutide approved for weight loss in 2021, reached nearly $900 million in 2022, according to Novo Nordisk , the pharmaceutical company that manufactures both brands.

They have soared in popularity over the last year, in part from social media attention and billionaires like Elon Musk touting the drugs’ weight loss effects. Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, but doctors sometimes prescribe it off-label for that purpose. Harper took Ozempic off-label for weight loss from May until November (she paused while moving to Washington state but plans to start again). For Yazeed, weight loss was not the reason she went on Ozempic, nor was it a goal. He hasn't experienced side effects or weight loss from Ozempic, he said, but he recognizes that isn't true for everyone.

☆ A cosmetic dermatologist says he's seeing 'Ozempic face,' or gaunt cheeks from taking the buzzy weight loss drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Allana Akhtar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A cosmetic dermatologist explained why he coined the term "Ozempic face," named after the buzzy weight loss drug. He treats "Ozempic face" by inserting fillers to revolumize the face, but said too many injections can create an unnatural look. Rapid weight loss causes skin saggingDr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a board-certified endocrinologist, said "Ozempic face" is a result of rapid weight loss, not the drug itself. The weight-loss drug causes overall fat loss, so every part of the face loses fat, like around the temple or jaw line. Treating "Ozempic face" requires injecting fillers to add volume to the whole face, not just the cheeks.

☆ A plastic surgeon says he's seeing 'Ozempic face,' or gaunt cheeks from taking the buzzy weight loss drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Allana Akhtar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A plastic surgeon explained why he coined the term "Ozempic face," named after the buzzy weight loss drug. He treats "Ozempic face" by inserting fillers to revolumize the face, but said too many injections can create an unnatural look. Rapid weight loss causes skin saggingDr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a board-certified endocrinologist, said "Ozempic face" is a result of rapid weight loss, not the drug itself. The weight-loss drug causes overall fat loss, so every part of the face loses fat, like around the temple or jaw line. Treating "Ozempic face" requires injecting fillers to add volume to the whole face, not just the cheeks.

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