Affordable obesity drugs could bring seismic shift to health care, conference hears
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Doctors back Ozempic-like drugs for wider health improvements at Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh
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Gulf Today
14-05-2025
- Gulf Today
EU scramble to interpret Trump's new drug pricing order
Maggie Fick, Reuters European governments are examining whether US President Donald Trump can force them to pay more for prescription medicines, after he issued an executive order to lower US drug prices, roiling the global pharmaceutical industry. On Monday, Trump took aim at governments paying a fraction of what Americans have to shell out for their medicines, and directed the use of trade policy to force other nations to pay more for prescription drugs. The Trump administration wants to reduce the gap between US drug prices and those in other developed countries such as many in Europe, where prescription drugs cost, on average, one-third what they do in the United States. Denmark's industry and business minister Morten Bodskov plans to meet with drugmakers based in his country to discuss the order. He did not give details about the meeting. 'The uncertainty (caused) by the US is bad for the world,' he told Reuters. 'Danish pharmaceutical companies are among the best in the world and are of great importance to Denmark. The message from Trump does not change that.' The country of six million has benefited from the expansion of Novo Nordisk and the outsize demand for its diabetes drug Ozempic and for Wegovy, one of the powerful new weight-loss drugs singled out by Trump in his push to lower prices. Novo, Europe's third-largest listed company worth 265 billion euros ($295.74 billion), said it looked forward to the meeting. In the US, drug prices are shaped by complex negotiations involving pharmacy benefit managers that act as middlemen between drugmakers and employer clients and health insurers and have been criticised for inflating costs. In Europe, countries generally have public health systems that negotiate directly with manufacturers and keep costs down. The European Commission, the EU executive, will assess the impact of Trump's order on European companies, a spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday. 'We know the pharmaceutical industry faces challenges both in the US and the EU,' the spokesperson said, noting Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had met with executives last month to address concerns about the threat of US tariffs on medicines. Trump's effort during his first term through a more limited executive order focused on certain drugs covered by the government's Medicare program — was blocked by a court. Trump said if drugmakers do not cut prices they could be hit with tariffs. His administration launched a probe last month into pharmaceutical imports as a potential precursor to placing levies on medicines on national security grounds. 'The United States will no longer subsidize the healthcare of foreign countries, which is what we were doing,' Trump said on Monday. 'I'm not knocking the drug companies. I'm really more knocking the countries than the drug companies.' Although Americans pay significantly more for medicines, they have access to a greater number of treatments. Some 55% more cancer drugs were launched in the U.S. than in the UK over the past three decades, according to a 2024 study in the British Medical Journal. An AstraZeneca spokesperson said the company supports fairer global sharing of pharmaceutical costs, but that changes must avoid 'disrupting patient care, undermining U.S. biotech leadership, or stifling innovation.' Seven drug pricing experts and lawyers told Reuters it is unclear how the administration could legally demand confidential contract details between drugmakers and governments. That information would be needed as Trump's order calls for giving drugmakers price targets within a month. Strict cost containment measures and reimbursement policies prevent drugmakers from charging Britain's financially strapped state-funded National Health Service more for new drugs, said Daniel Howdon, a health economist at the University of Leeds. 'Unless there is some sort of overhaul of UK law or policy, Trump's order will not be able to achieve higher prices,' he said. A spokesperson for Germany's health ministry told Reuters it was not possible to predict how the U.S. order may be implemented. Germany has a 'clearly defined framework for price negotiations on medicines between statutory health insurance and the pharmaceutical industry,' the spokesperson said. The call for developed countries to pay more for drugs so the U.S. can pay less comes as worries grow that uncertainty caused by Trump's whiplash trade war will dampen the 27-nation bloc's already-weak economy. Even with the threat of tariffs, governments may be unable and unwilling to spend more on medicines, particularly as populations age and healthcare budgets tighten, UBS analyst Trung Huynh said. The UK government does not publish the prices it pays for NHS drugs, but a source at the UK's Department of Health and Social Care said prices for some treatments are about a quarter of those paid by the U.S. The DHSC did not respond to a request for comment. Still, a source at a European drugmaker told Reuters the Trump administration could still exert pressure to try to force governments to alter their longstanding pricing practices embedded in national health systems. 'I read this as him showing pharma all of the negotiating tools he has at his disposal,' said Anna Kaltenboeck, a health economist at Verdant Research, 'and giving them some credible threat based on his willingness to impose tariffs so far.'
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
12-05-2025
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Weight Loss Wonder Drugs: Are We Now Seeing Their Wider Impact?
The global market for Ozempic, Wegovy and similar drugs is projected to explode during the next five years. Fashion – which has made hard won gains in size inclusivity – is already seeing the impact Welcome to the Ozempic era. It's hard to believe it has been only two years since Elon Musk made headlines attributing his startling weight loss to 'fasting and Wegovy', referring to the injectable medication semaglutide. Other boldfaces now also on the record about using Ozempic and similar drugs include Chelsea Handler, Kathy Bates, Tori Spelling, Rebel Wilson, Amy Schumer, Oprah Winfrey and Boy George. But such has been the uptake of the drugs beyond Hollywood and Silicon Valley, economists have coined the term the 'Ozempic Economy'. In 2023, global sales of branded obesity drugs amounted to US$6 billion. Earlier this year, however, the investment bank Morgan Stanley projected that, by 2030, the market will blow out to at least US$105 billion and as much as US$144 billion – dramatically revising its earlier forecast of US$77 billion. In many countries, regulatory challenges and supply shortages have limited people's access to these drugs. But with Ozempic counterparts Wegovy and Saxenda now available as weight-loss treatments for non-diabetic patients – and a 2022 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report classifying 32 per cent of the adult population as obese – we're about to feel their impact firsthand. Ozempic, made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, was first approved for diabetic patients in 2017 by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its sister drug Wegovy, containing the same active ingredient (semaglutide) but intended purely for weight loss, came onto the market in 2021. Both work by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which slows down digestion and tells our brains we're full. A landmark trial involving 1961 adults and published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2021 showed those using Ozempic lost an average of 14.9 per cent of their body mass over 68 weeks (compared to a mean loss of 2.4 per cent in the placebo group). For a 90kg woman, that's the equivalent of shedding 13 kilograms – enough to change your clothing size and, more importantly, cut your risk of developing heart disease and some types of cancer. Watching all this closely is the fashion world, which was notoriously slow to embrace larger sizes, particularly at the luxury end of the market. The late Karl Lagerfeld, for one, offended many with his occasional bursts of fat-shaming commentary. But much has changed since 2009, when Lagerfeld told Germany's Focus magazine that 'no one wants to see curvy women' on the runway. In recent years, not only has there been far greater plus-size representation in clothes available on the high street, we've seen the emergence of new players, such as the size-inclusive luxury e-tailer 11 Honoré, as well as a cadre of celebrity curve models including Precious Lee, Paloma Elsesser and Jill Kortleve, who now make regular, if tokenistic, appearances in luxury-brand runway shows. Alas, there are early signs the Ozempic effect may be reversing some of these gains. Molly Rooyakkers, an Amsterdam-based data analyst, researcher and strategist, who also operates the popular Style Analytics Instagram account, says she's seen evidence that consumers have been focusing on smaller sizing since 2022. 'Retailers' internal studies indicate an increase in sales of smaller-sized clothing in the US over the past year, a trend also reflected in search data,' says Rooyakkers, 'For instance, searches for size 0 jeans at popular youth-focused retailers in the US have risen by eight per cent in the past year.' According to Rooyakkers, we are also seeing a resurgence in the idolisation of ultra-thin bodies, with fashion aesthetics like 'indie sleaze' and 'heroin chic' trending on TikTok and Pinterest. Although there is no clear way to show causation, Rooyakkers' theory is that these trends are linked to the rise in popularity of Ozempic. At the same time, she says, search volume for terms like 'plus-size dress' and 'plus-sized dress H&M or Zara' have decreased by between 15-43 per cent since 2022, while TikTok videos with the hashtags #bodypositive and #plussize have seen a 23 per cent and 11 per cent decrease, respectively. According to the Fall 2022 Diversity Report published by web forum The Fashion Spot (TFS), that season featured a record-breaking 103 plus-sized models – or 2.34 per cent of total castings – up from 81 plus-sized models who walked earlier for the spring 2022 shows. TFS has yet to publish a fall 2024 season equivalent, but according to the Vogue Business fall 2024 size-inclusivity report published in March, just 0.8 per cent of the 8800 looks presented across 230 shows and presentations throughout fashion month were plus-size (18+), 3.7 per cent were mid-size (10-16), with the remaining 95.5 per cent 'straight' size (4-8). The retreat of size diversity on runways has become so pronounced that, in September, Belgian designers Ester Manas and Balthazar Delepierre, co-founders and co-creative directors of the size-inclusive Belgian label Ester Manas, named their Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection 'The Elephant in The Room'. As a show backdrop, they installed a giant elephant sculpture that featured in every runway photo of their size-inclusive cast. 'Everyone should do what they want to do, but when the norm becomes rigged by something quite defined and medical and conforming like Ozempic, for us it's kind of an issue,' Delepierre told Women's Wear Daily after the show. But the shift isn't limited to runways, says Michaela Wessels, CEO of Style Arcade, a fashion retail analytics software company that works with more than 120 brands and retailers globally, including The Iconic, White Fox and Aje. 'What I saw early on within our luxury brands was buyers shifting into smaller sizes,' she explains, 'and then you saw high-street brands catching up as well, and sports. But the luxury brands have typically never invested enough into being size inclusive or plus size, so really their market is just getting smaller.' Michaela continues: 'Across the board we're seeing a 10 per cent shift downwards in every size, but some high-street and fast-fashion brands are seeing a more pronounced shift from average sizes M-XXL into XXS-M. And investment is moving accordingly.' On top of that, Michaela says they're seeing demand move out of some plus-sized brands entirely and into more mainstream labels. But why would brands so quickly backtrack after decades of pressure to cater to larger body sizes? Well, says Wessels, not only do brands stand to save money by making smaller garments, but many have struggled to cater their supply chain, marketing and patterns to fit more diverse bodies. For them, easy access to a magic pill that promises to drop people into mainstream sizing comes as a relief to their business model. Despite well-publicised shortages, in the US, one in eight adults has already tried Ozempic or Wegovy, according to a survey by independent health-polling company KFF in May. And with more than 40 per cent of Americans now classified as obese – a number that's remained steady over the past decade, according to the latest US National Center for Health Statistics data – there's still a much larger potential market for semaglutide. Young people, particularly, seem keen to try the drug: between 2020-23, the number of American women aged 18-25 using it increased by 659 per cent, according to a study published in JAMA, with men in the same age bracket not too far behind. Morgan Stanley's April 2024 Obesity Medication: Ripple Effects report estimates that, by 2035, nine per cent of the US population will be taking weight-loss medication. Ozempic is now surging in popularity in the Middle East too, as obesity rates are among the highest in the world – with reliance on cars rather than public transport for commutes, and high temperatures that keep people indoors, and a growing appetite for home-delivery fast food. According to the Global Nutrition Report 31 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women in the United Arab Emirates live with obesity, while in Qatar, the figures are about 36 per cent for men and 46 per cent for women. There was a shortage of the drug in 2022, but the introduction of Mounjaro, helped offset demand. For every person who raves about Ozempic or Wegovy, someone else is bemoaning its side effects. The UAE's federal system means that rules vary from emirate to emirate. So while in Dubai and Abu Dhabi a prescription is needed to buy, elsewhere it can be purchased over-the-counter, which means there is a lack of doctor supervision. 'In some of the large trials out of the US, nearly half the people are experiencing nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation or tiredness' says Lauren Ball, a professor in community health and wellbeing at the University of Queensland. 'The severity of that is not the same for everyone, but that's a large percentage.' In September, British model Lottie Moss (half-sister of Kate), used an episode of her Dream On podcast to recount her 'horrible' experience with Ozempic, which she acquired from a friend. Calling using the drug the 'worst decision' of her life, Lottie said it caused vomiting, seizures and 'the scariest [situation she's] ever had to deal with'. 'Do not take it,' she warned. 'This should not be a trend right now. Where did body positivity go?' While the more severe side effects include pancreatitis and bowel obstruction, reports indicate that a lot of people simply can't get used to injecting themselves weekly or daily – depending on the drug – and the loss of desire for food is a form of misery. According to an analysis led by US-based Prime Therapeutics and published in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy in August, on average only one-third of people continue taking GLP-1 drugs one year after starting them. This followed trial-extension research published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in 2022 that found that, one year after ceasing semaglutide injections, participants regained, on average, two-thirds of the weight they'd lost. It seems we're not even close to seeing maximum take-up of these drugs in this region. Furthermore, manufacturers are working on oral versions, which would further reduce the barrier to entry.' On one hand, we can celebrate the drug because we've all been crying out for it. Obesity has been a concern for so long for so many people,' says Lauren. 'But it's causing us to rethink our relationship with food and how we, as a society, accept different body types. And that poses a different kind of risk.' Morgan Stanley's survey cited in Ripple Effect also shows that the number of people who worked out weekly doubled once they started taking GLP-1 drugs, and 26 per cent said they'd bought more athleisure apparel and footwear. Last year, Wolfgang Puck's Spago restaurant in Beverly Hills, California said it would shrink portion sizes on request for people taking Ozempic, while other high-profile LA and New York restaurants are reportedly increasing their offerings of smaller tapas plates. In May, Nestlé released a new frozenfood line, Vital Pursuit – high in protein and fibre, relatively low in calories – 'intended to be a companion for GLP-1 weight-loss medication users', the company said. And cosmetic clinics are seeing an uptick in clients requesting filler to combat a gaunt 'Ozempic face' caused by rapid weight loss. Despite alarming stories like Lottie's, semaglutide, used correctly, can undoubtedly help stave off serious illness. On top of the cardiovascular benefits, a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in August that tracked more than 17,000 people using semaglutide for an average of three years revealed a reduced risk of death from any cause, including infection and cancer. '[It] has far-reaching benefits beyond what we initially imagined,' journal editor Professor Harlan Krumholz, of the Yale School of Medicine, told The Guardian in September. 'It wouldn't surprise me that improving people's health this way actually slows down the ageing process.' If that proves to be the case, the implications for national health budgets are immense. 'It really is the Ozempic economy – that's not hype,' Jessica Couch, founder of North Carolina, US-based fashion and tech consultancy Luxor & Finch, told Bazaar Arabia. And though she's concerned about how quickly fashion seems to be turning its back on plus-size women, she thinks the resultant backlash could be the shake-up the industry needs to address, finally, its sizing issues. 'Women's body types are still being misunderstood – a numerical size doesn't actually correlate to a body shape,' says Jessica, who recently launched a peer-to-peer shopping platform – – where women can buy clothes that they see on real women with a similar body type to their own. 'When we're requesting smaller sizes, we still want clothes that fit larger hips or shorter or longer torsos.' Jessica continues: 'A lot of people are happy with their bodies. We might all be watching Hollywood get super thin, but I think a lot of these brands may be in for a rude awakening if they think they can go back to ignoring other body types.' Professor Ball similarly doubts that everyone is going to revert to wanting to be a size eight. 'I would hope weight-loss medication will become just another tool for us to pursue health and wellbeing in a way that's meaningful to each of us individually,' she says. 'There's still a limit to what we know about how these drugs are affecting our bodies and our relationship with food. We're absolutely just seeing the beginning of how this will change our society.'
Emirates Woman
02-05-2025
- Emirates Woman
Gut Feel: How to heal your gut from the inside out
Dr. Karima Arroud, Functional Medicine Doctor at Wellth, on how to heal your gut from the inside out. The gut is the second brain. How does it work? Your gut contains over 100 million neurons and produces around 90 per cent of your serotonin. It communicates with your brain via the vagus nerve, sending constant updates about your physical and emotional state. This gut-brain axis explains why gut health influences mood, memory, and even anxiety. What does good gut health look like? Good gut health means optimal digestion, regular and pain-free bowel movements (typically one to three times per day), absence of bloating, minimal gas, stable energy levels, clear skin, balanced mood, strong immunity, and a sense of lightness after meals. It's not just about digestion – your gut impacts your entire system, including hormones and brain function. Alternatively, what are the symptoms of a bad gut? Common signs include bloating, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, excessive gas, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues (like acne or eczema), food sensitivities, and mood disturbances such as anxiety or irritability. Recurrent infections or poor immunity can also be linked to gut dysfunction. With a heightened social awareness of gut health, is there such a thing as overdoing it with probiotics? Yes, more is not always better. Overuse of probiotics – especially without guidance – can lead to symptoms like bloating or imbalance, particularly if the strains are not tailored to the individual. The microbiome is like a garden: balance and diversity matter more than sheer quantity. Dr. Karima Arroud, Functional Medicine Doctor at Wellth What are the common issues women in the Middle East suffer from when it comes to gut health? Many women face bloating, sluggish digestion, and IBS-like symptoms due to high stress levels, sedentary lifestyle, poor sleep, frequent use of antibiotics, and a diet high in refined carbs and low in fiber. Vitamin D deficiency, common in the region, can also negatively impact gut function. What tests can one take to get a baseline gut health assessment? A comprehensive stool test such as the GI-MAP is a powerful tool – it identifies bacterial imbalances, parasites, inflammation, and markers of digestion and immune function. Other useful tests include food sensitivity panels, zonulin (for gut permeability), and organic acids to assess dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth. What are the nutritional dietary sources for rebalancing the gut? And what food should one avoid that disrupt the gut health foundation? Focus on a variety of fiber-rich vegetables, fermented foods (like sauerkraut or kefir), polyphenol-rich fruits (like berries), and omega-3s. Avoid ultra-processed foods, artificial sweeteners, excessive alcohol, and refined sugars – all of which damage the gut lining and feed harmful bacteria. Food diversity is key for microbial diversity. In terms of lifestyle, what habits can one do long-term to support a healthier gut? Daily habits include: managing stress (chronic stress alters gut function), prioritising quality sleep, moving your body regularly, eating slowly and chewing properly, limiting unnecessary antibiotics or acid-suppressing medications and fasting overnight for at least 12 hours to give the gut time to rest. For those looking to add live culture into your system, what is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics? Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that you can ingest through supplements or fermented foods. Prebiotics are the fibers that feed these bacteria – found in foods like onions, garlic, leeks, and bananas. Both are essential for a thriving gut ecosystem. There is a thin crossover between strains. For the consumer, what should we be looking out for on gut-supporting supplements? Look for clinically studied strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (immune and gut barrier support), Bifidobacterium lactis (constipation and inflammation) and Saccharomyces boulardii (helpful post-antibiotic or for travel). Choose supplements that list the strain (not just the species), contain at least 10–30 billion CFUs, and have been tested for shelf stability. Do you suggest different dosages for those dealing with a gut-related issue – is there such a thing as overdoing it with probiotics? Yes. Therapeutic doses may be higher short-term, but they should always be customised. For example, post-antibiotic or during travel, you may need specific strains at higher doses. However, too many probiotics without addressing diet and lifestyle won't solve the root issue – and can sometimes aggravate symptoms. This is The Discovery Issue – what is your recent wellness discovery? A recent game-changer is the discovery of how gut microbiome diversity can influence estrogen metabolism – especially in women. The 'estrobolome,' a subset of gut bacteria, helps regulate estrogen levels. When this is out of balance, it may contribute to PMS, PCOS, or endometriosis. This has opened new doors in personalised female healthcare. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied, Getty Images, and Pexels
