Semaglutide

Semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and reduce obesity.  

It was developed by Novo Nordisk in 2012.  It was approved for use in America in 2017.  It was approved in Europe in 2022  and in the National Health Service in 2023.  Sales of Wegovy increased five-fold in 2023.  Ozempic became the world's biggest-selling diabetes drug. 

People who had the weekly injection saw their weight drop by 12% on average after 68 weeks.  It is also prescribed for heart conditions.

In a trial of more than 17,600 people aged above 45 with obesity who had cardiovascular disease, but not diabetes, published in 2023, it  cut the risk of heart attacks by 28%.

A black market developed  in the United Kingdom in 2023 with  unlicensed semaglutide being sold through social media and in beauty salons.

References

Category:Anti-diabetic drugs
Category:Obesity