I was impressed by the headline on the article. The new drug produced a 22.5% weight loss, which is about 52 pounds, when combined with diet and exercise. That sounds great, but my enthusiasm waned as I learned more.
It wasn't intended to be an anti-obesity drug. The FDA approved Eli Lilly's brand name, Mounjaro, to treat type-2 diabetes. It is given once a week. It is the first and only combination of the two. Wegovy was previously approved to help manage weight loss in combination with a reduced diet and exercise in patients with at least one weight related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. Only GLP-1 is targeted. I wrote about semaglutide. GIP has been shown to increase energy expenditure.
Patients who have had pancreatitis have not been studied or indicated for type 1 diabetes. There is a long list of side effects, some serious, including gall bladder and kidney problems, and changes in vision. The use of it for weight loss is based on what might be considered a side effect. That is not a problem. After many reports of hair growth, Minoxidil was approved for hair loss treatment.
The retail price is $12,666 a year.
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The company wants the FDA to approve the product for weight loss, but the study has not yet been published and the data has not been submitted for peer review.
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It will be expensive and not without risk, but it sounds promising as a drug to help obese and overweight people lose a substantial amount of weight. I am cautiously optimistic but must not make a decision yet. FDA approval has not yet been granted because more research is needed.
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