The semaglutide revolution?
I saw an article online yesterday that claimed that over 1% of Americans are using semaglutides for weight loss. Since these drugs suppress appetite, the article was about the possible impact on food retail.
Since global warming promises to destroy a lot of arable land on the planet, as well as ocean fisheries, reducing food consumption by overweight people strikes me as an unalloyed good.
Since obesity is a risk factor for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and joint damage, maybe semaglutides will also reduce healthcare costs in America. This is starting to shape up like statins, anti-hypertensives and antibiotics for peptic ulcers–relatively risk-free pharmacology with transformative health outcomes.
I agree. I think this is very important. I was actually surprised that only 1% take semaglutides (I am willing to bet that the percent will increase rapidly).
Recall, they were first studied as treatment for type II diabetes, so there is likely to be a direct beneficial effect aside from the effect on appetite. Indeed, a weight loss side effect might be one way to motivate more treatment for diabetes which would be another very good thing.
@Robert,
Agreed. And for many folks with T2D, weight loss *is* the treatment.
I imagine that for some folks, the weight loss will also be a spur to exercising more, since it’s easier when you weigh less.
Antibiotics work on peptic ulcers?
Only 1% are taking (in part) because it’s an off-label use of an expensive ($1,000/month list) drug. Wegovy / Ozempic is getting denied by insurance companies (which makes sense if you think about it, since it’s at best pending FDA approval for the weight loss use).
The solution is to become a T2D. Which I don’t really recommend because (as noted above) weight loss can remediate (I do not say “cure,” but the end result’s the same) T2D, at which point you no longer “need” the semaglutide and, judging by the reports, you are very likely to put the weight back on, starting the cycle again.
This appears to be another case (as with ADHD meds) where the need is greater than the usage, but the usage does not entirely overlap with those who need it most. I remain optimistic (suburban white people aren’t snarking about Ozempic the way they do about Adderall), but the current time period is neither stable nor an equilibrium.
@Ken,
My sister isn’t a type 2 diabetic, is taking Wegovy, lost 85 lbs and her insurance paid for it.
“Antibiotics work on peptic ulcers?”
Yep. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peptic-ulcer/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354229#:~:text=If%20H.%20pylori%20is%20found,Tindamax)%2C%20tetracycline%20and%20levofloxacin.
“but the current time period is neither stable nor an equilibrium.”
I’ll leave the prophecy to others. YMMV.
Ah the FDA *again*. I think the evidence is now strong enough that the FDA *should* approve semaglutide for weight loss. I think care in approving new uses for drugs whose side effects are known (and acceptable) is another example of status quo bias — obesity is killing people now but first do no harm, second do no harm, and third better safe than sorry.
But that is just me complaining as usual.
I’d say it is a case for the Federal Government to buy the patent (this would involve massive spending). I think also a case for operation warp speed type grants to profit making firms to pay for phase III trials.
But again won’t happen.
The revolution is coming, but it will be slow, because of penny wise pound foolish (pun unintended) policy and status quo bias.
@Robert,
In effect, the Phase III trial has been underway for awhile with the large scale off-label use of semaglutide in non-T2D patients. Granted, its not double blinded, but blinding makes no sense based on what we already know. Someone could just do a retrospective study of treated and matched untreated controls and get the same data. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s already funded and underway, but I haven’t checked NIH Reporter.
What is the religious take on the chemical cessation of desire?
@Kaleberg,
Which religion?