Semaglutide Surge: How It’s Changing Weight Loss and Disease Management

Over half of U.S. adults are eligible for semaglutide, raising concerns about accessibility and affordability as its use expands.

Highlights:

Over 137 million U.S. adults qualify for semaglutide
Semaglutide shows promise for treating multiple conditions, beyond obesity and diabetes
The cost of semaglutide remains a significant barrier for many users

New study has found more than half of the U.S. adults could be eligible for the anti-obesity drug semaglutide, which heralds a surge in its demand. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, with other emerging evidence that it also has benefits in sleep apnea, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease ().

Semaglutide Can Help Quit Alcohol
Studies indicate semaglutide, an antidiabetic, has potential to treat alcohol addiction. It acts on brain hormone which reduces pleasure related to alcohol.

‘Did You Know?
Semaglutide is the top-selling drug in 2023, but many patients struggle with its cost. #medindia #semaglutide’

Opening Up Eligibility for Semaglutide

In the study, using national health data, 137 million of all adults in the United States are candidates for semaglutide with the majority for weight loss and diabetes. This comprises 26.8 million Medicare, 13.8 million Medicaid as well as 61.1 million commercially insured adults.

Potential Link Between Semaglutide Drugs and Suicidal Thoughts
Recent studies suggest a potential link between semaglutide-based medications, such as Ozempic, and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts.

Health Benefits and Expanded Use of Semaglutide

Semaglutide is the anti-diabetic and weight-reduction drug that has provided relief for symptoms of sleep apnea, certain kinds of heart disease, even halting the progression of chronic kidney disease. The greater the amount of data from the study, the higher the number of applications for use in the medicine, yet it is currently being tested for liver and renal ailments, substance use disorders, and dementia.

Semaglutide Cuts Kidney Disease Risk by 24% in Type 2 Diabetes
Semaglutide in FLOW trial cuts kidney disease risk by 24% in type 2 diabetes patients. Ozempic's label expansion anticipated in 2024.

Financial Impact and Concerns About Accessibility

Semaglutide is one of the market leaders in total pharmaceutical expenditure in the United States by 2023. The growing demand for semaglutide therefore means that patients will eventually be priced out of the drug even as its uses expand beyond GLP-1 in the treatment of diabetes. The study also reflects that most patients have complained of high cost for the drug, and it also reveals that more than half of the users have great difficulty in being able to afford the medication regularly.

Increased availability of semaglutide is another way this medication may contribute to the better health of the public. This means that there is a need to spread the uptake, especially for the unserved communities.

Reference:

Use of new diet drugs likely to mushroom - (https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/11/use-of-new-diet-drugs-likely-to-mushroom/)

Source-Medindia

New Side Effects of Semaglutide
Semaglutide which is getting popular for weight loss management can cause rare and serious side effects.