See this article by RemedyOne senior manager of formulary development Jason Peterson as it originally appeared in pharmaphorum and read the Goodroot weight loss drug guide it’s based on.
Obesity rates in the United States have tripled since the 1980s. According to the CDC, a mind-boggling 41.9% of adults were obese as of 2020. Many adults with obesity have a higher risk of developing other health problems, such as heart disease, hypertension, joint pain, and certain types of cancer.
This is a national health crisis.
When it was discovered that new diabetes drugs induced rapid and substantial weight loss, it received quite a bit of attention from a population at such risk for obesity. But, as effective as they are, these drugs are not magic. There’s much to consider for patients, providers, and health plans.
Ozempic is the Headliner
Of all the drugs being used for weight loss these days, none has gotten more attention than Ozempic. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Ozempic is a self-administered injectable diabetes medication in the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class. It mimics a natural substance in the body that is released when we eat and causes the body to reduce blood glucose by producing more insulin.
Despite the amount of attention it has received, Ozempic is FDA approved only for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and not obesity. However, it has been prescribed for off-label use and was found to be an effective weight-loss drug.
Not only does Ozempic boost the release of insulin, it slows the release of sugar from the liver, delays digestion in the gut, and reduces appetite, which helps people eat less.
Wegovy is… Ozempic, But More of it
Wegovy is exactly the same as Ozempic — same manufacturer, same active ingredient (semaglutide). What makes it “different” is it is administered at a higher dosage and, as a result, is more effective for weight loss than Ozempic. Unlike Ozempic, Wegovy is only FDA approved for weight loss in patients who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 or those with a BMI of 27 with certain other risk factors.
Because of the perceived interchangeability of Ozempic and Wegovy, some physicians have prescribed both drugs for weight loss. This has resulted in supply shortages that impact patients who need these medications, for diabetes or for weight loss. Further contributing to this shortage is the prescribing of these medications off label to patients.
Continue reading at pharmaphorum and check out Balancing The Scales: A Comprehensive Guide For Healthcare Payers On The Value & Viability Of New Weight Loss Medications.
