Latest news with #GLP1
Health Line
7 hours ago
- Health
- Health Line
Is It Safe to Take a GLP-1 Medication with Digestive Health Conditions?
Consider safety when combining GLP-1 medications with preexisting digestive health conditions. GLP-1 medications are prescribed to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. They're also prescribed for weight loss in people with obesity. GLP-1 medications belong to a class of drugs that include semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and several others. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, two popular GLP-1 drugs. Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Saxenda, and dulaglutide is the active ingredient in Trulicity. GLP-1 medications may cause uncomfortable side effects and increase the risk of gastrointestinal conditions. Digestive health and GLP-1 medications GLP-1 medications work by mimicking the effects of the GLP-1 hormone, which is produced within the small intestine. Like the naturally occurring hormone your body makes, GLP-1 medications slow digestion (stomach emptying) and signal your brain that you feel full and can stop eating. They also trigger the release of insulin from the pancreas and inhibit the secretion of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels. Several GLP-1 medications, including Wegovy, list many side effects, including gastrointestinal side effects, directly on their labels. These side effects may include: vomiting nausea diarrhea constipation bloating gas and belching heartburn stomach flu dehydration, especially in people with kidney failure More serious side effects may include: What the research says GLP-1 agonists are approved for people with type 2 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels, and some are approved for weight loss. Let's take a look at the research and implications of people who have taken GLP-1 agonists along with various gastrointestinal conditions. A large 2023 study including people without diabetes who were using GLP-1 agonists for weight loss found that this class of medications may increase the risk of gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastroparesis. Researchers found the drugs did not increase the risk of biliary disease (conditions of the gallbladder or bile ducts) in participants. These adverse effects are thought to be rare but should be considered by people who wish to use GLP-1 medications for weight loss. A 2022 study involving people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) found that ROSE 010, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, reduced IBS pain during flare-ups, primarily in female participants. When given in higher doses, however, nausea became more pronounced. A large 2024 study found that adults treated with semaglutide for diabetes mellitus are not at higher risk of diverticulitis and seem to have a lower risk of diverticulosis. Much more research is needed to uncover the potential benefits, as well as risks, of these medications. Tips for managing GLP-1 use with digestive conditions Talk with your healthcare professional about the benefits of GLP-1 medications versus their risks. Your age, underlying health conditions, and other factors, such as needle phobia, should be taken into account. In many instances, you and a healthcare professional may determine that the benefits outweigh the risks. Or, you may decide that the side effects are not worth the benefits, or that they make you too uncomfortable to continue taking these drugs. To manage digestive conditions and side effects while taking a GLP-1 agonist, follow these tips: follow the dosage instructions exactly as prescribed slowly increase your fiber intake, as recommended by your healthcare professional consider taking fiber supplements if constipation occurs drink plenty of water to remain hydrated eat small, frequent meals rather than large meals avoid eating too close to bedtime avoid spicy or fatty foods exercise regularly to aid with digestion
Fox News
8 hours ago
- Health
- Fox News
Is Ozempic ruining your teeth? What to know about impact on dental health
Despite their widely touted benefits — primarily weight loss and diabetes control, among others — GLP-1 medications have also been linked to some unwelcome side effects. In addition to the main complaints of gastrointestinal issues, some lesser-known side effects have emerged, including mood changes, hair loss and "Ozempic face." Now, there are rumblings on social media from patients and doctors suggesting that weight-loss drugs could be linked to tooth decay and gum issues like irritation and bleeding. Ozempic teeth, much like Ozempic face, is a term coined online to describe a characteristic that some believe could be related to their use of weight-loss and diabetes drugs. The characteristic in question is an increase in dental problems when using GLP-1s, although there is not yet any scientific evidence that the two are linked. Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting and acid reflux are all widely reported side effects of Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs. "Patients have reported dry mouth while on Ozempic in both dental practices I work in," Dr. Ricky Marshall, owner of Stratland Dental in Glendale, Arizona, and dentist at Wolff Family Dentistry & Orthodontics in Queen Creek, Arizona, told Fox News Digital. While Ozempic itself may not be triggering the increased tooth decay, side effects like dry mouth are "likely the main cause" of some of the dental problems people are experiencing, according to Marshall. Additionally, he noted, Ozempic is reported to increase stomach acid because the medication works by slowing down digestion. When increased stomach acid leads to acid reflux, heartburn or vomiting, the acid's contact with the teeth "will absolutely contribute" to increased decay, Marshall said. Dr. Whitney White of Aspen Dental in Las Vegas said she hasn't personally seen any patients experiencing oral health issues linked to GLP-1s. "I do encourage all of my patients to be open about what medications they are taking, as they can contribute to issues like dry mouth," she told Fox News Digital. "Dry mouth leads to plaque buildup, which in turn leads to cavities and sensitivity." Antacids are one solution to acid reflux, according to Cleveland Clinic. These over-the-counter medicines neutralize stomach acid so that when reflux happens, it isn't as corrosive to the esophagus. Although these medications can be effective for occasional acid reflux, Cleveland Clinic warned that they can have side effects if taken too often, so they likely "aren't a good long-term solution." To alleviate dry mouth, the above source recommends chewing sugarless gum to promote saliva production and drinking plenty of water, among other remedies. For more Health articles, visit The clinic also recommends that individuals "take medications that cause dry mouth in the morning, not at night," because dry mouth at night is more likely to cause cavities and other dental issues. Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic and Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro and Zepbound) for comment. Neither company includes mention of dental-related side effects in the drugs' prescribing information.
Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
How exactly do weight-loss drugs work – and which ones are best?
When it comes to weight loss, we're all after a magic bullet, a simple, stress-free way of shedding the excess pounds. And so for millions around the world, the arrival of the so-called GLP-1 class of weight-loss drugs in 2021 seemed like a godsend, especially for anyone who's struggled to stick with dieting advice, commit to an exercise regime or simply find a weight-loss solution that works. Named after the GLP-1 hormone they mimic in the brain, the drugs help you stay full longer and reduce appetite. But while drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are now household names, they aren't as easy to access on the NHS as many would hope. People willing to pay can now get them via a range of private clinics and online doctor services, although legitimate services will not prescribe them to you unless you have a BMI of 27 or higher, in accordance with guidelines. However, with patents starting to expire and the cost of these medications predicted to fall, as well as future GLP-1 drugs which are promised to be even more effective now in the pipeline, the future of weight-loss treatments seems promising. So with that in mind, how exactly do GLP-1 drugs work, what's out there, and who is eligible to get them? What are GLP-1s? The different types Which is best for weight loss? Side effects Cost What are GLP-1s and how did it all start? The story of a drug market, and the origins of GLP-1, now worth hundreds of billions, began with a surprise discovery at Massachusetts General Hospital in the 1980s. Svetlana Mojsov, a biochemist at The Rockefeller University, carried out a series of experiments which revealed that the gut releases a hormone called GLP-1 in response to eating, stimulating the release of insulin in the pancreas. Further research would later show that GLP-1 also acts on the brain to signal that we're satiated and dampen down appetite. Over more than two decades, scientists at Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and American pharma Eli Lilly would work to develop synthetic versions of this natural hormone; injectable medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists, or more commonly, GLP-1s. The idea was that they would bind to and activate the same biological pathways in the body as the real thing, but in a vastly more potent fashion which lasted for days at a time. GLP-1s were initially marketed to Type 2 diabetes patients because of their ability to stimulate the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are excessively high. The more recent suite of medications are administered in higher doses, with the primary goal of facilitating weight loss. 'The drugs that work on this system are much more powerful than the natural GLP-1 hormone,' explains Prof John Wilding, an expert in obesity, diabetes and endocrinology at the University of Liverpool. 'The natural hormone is broken down within a few minutes, whereas you inject the drugs and they last in the body for a week or longer.' How do the GLP-1 drugs work? Scientists have discovered that both the vagus nerve – a vast chain of nerve fibres which spans the body – and the brain itself, is studded with so-called GLP-1 receptors. These are proteins which can be specifically stimulated by either the body's own GLP-1 hormones produced by the gut, or synthetic GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. Wilding says that the presence of GLP-1 receptors in the brain is thought to be one of the key reasons why GLP-1 drugs can impact hunger, fullness and reward, as they allow these drugs to stimulate various brain regions, swiftly dampening down appetite and the desire to overeat. But beyond weight loss, there also may be some unforeseen, even more profound, consequences of stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the brain which is why GLP-1 drugs are also being studied for conditions ranging from addiction to neurodegenerative diseases. Because these receptors are not only found in the brain, but across the body, including in organs such as the kidney and the heart, they may also have beneficial consequences when it comes to preventing and even treating a range of chronic diseases. The different types of GLP-1 drugs 1. Liraglutide (Saxenda) Good for low levels of weight loss It didn't make as many headlines as Ozempic, yet a different drug known as Saxenda was actually the first GLP-1 to become available on the NHS for treating obesity, back in October 2020. A daily rather than weekly injection, it isn't quite as powerful or as long-lasting as the newer alternatives which has led to Saxenda being eclipsed. 'There's been two or three generations of these drugs,' says Prof Wilding. 'The initial ones have mostly disappeared from the market because they were once or even twice a day injections, and relatively weak compared to what we've got now. But Saxenda is still available and has some effect on body weight.' More notably, Saxenda's UK patent expired last month and the so-called generics industry – which produces non-branded copies of existing drugs – has already developed copies of liraglutide which are expected to be considerably cheaper than other GLP-1s, potentially boosting its appeal. 2. Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) Good for building up the dosage more slowly A weekly GLP-1 injection, semaglutide is marketed as Ozempic for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for the treatment of obesity. Wilding explains that the main difference between Ozempic and Wegovy is that the latter offers a slightly higher maximum dose of semaglutide which people can work their way up to using. 'For diabetes the dose usually only goes up to one milligram,' he says. 'But with Wegovy, the maximum dose is 2.4mg.' Compared with Saxenda, it's not only longer-acting but the reach of the drug also seems to be more potent. 'We know from some of the preclinical studies in mice that semaglutide seems to reach parts of the brain that liraglutide doesn't reach,' says Wilding. 3. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) Good for higher amounts of weight loss The most powerful weight loss drug on offer, Mounjaro is slightly more complex than either Saxenda or Wegovy. As well as activating the body's GLP-1 receptors, it also stimulates receptors used by a second gut hormone called GIP. 'What the gut hormone is doing is helping the GLP-1 work better,' says Martin Whyte, an associate professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey. 'So it's almost like a super GLP-1.' Prof Wilding points out that Mounjaro also comes in six different doses, with the 5mg dose offering similar weight loss benefits to Wegovy, and then the higher 10mg and 15mg doses helping patients to lose even more weight. 4. Retatrutide The most powerful weight loss drug This isn't yet clinically available but retatrutide already created something of a stir in the obesity medicine world on the back of clinical trials which suggest that it's the most powerful weight loss drug created so far. Developed by Eli Lilly, makers of Mounjaro, you'll hear retatrutide described as a 'triple agonist,' which means that it mimics the effects of three gut hormones: GLP-1, GIP and another one called glucagon. This means that it doesn't just blunt appetite, it also speeds up the metabolism of body fat. Currently being studied in a phase three trial, it could feasibly hit the market in the next couple of years. There's more expected to come as well with more than 100 different drugs based on various gut hormones in different stages of clinical development. 'We're going to see a lot of competition and interest in this area, because now people know it can be done,' says Prof Wilding. 'That's probably a good thing, because it means more choice for patients. Maybe somebody who doesn't tolerate one will be able to take another one, so having a range of options available is good.' Which GLP-1 drug is the best for weight-loss? The following table shows the average percentage weight-loss for each GLP-1 drug: Dr Whyte says that when he treats patients with obesity, he now almost always prescribes Mounjaro because the weight loss effects are clearly superior to anything else currently available. 'In terms of weight loss, there's a very good argument to just use tirzepatide and not semaglutide full stop,' he says. This could change again if retatrutide is approved for mainstream use in the coming years. However, Dr Whyte predicts that the emergence of more options will allow doctors to make more tailored choices. 'In many individuals, you don't need 20 per cent weight loss,' he says. 'The data shows that if your BMI is less than 35, something like 7 per cent weight loss can already achieve a clear metabolic benefit. So something like semaglutide would be perfectly reasonable and would do the job just as well.' What are the other health benefits? GLP-1 drugs have also been linked to other health benefits besides weight loss. They have been shown to help reduce the risk of: Sleep apnoea Addiction Cardiovascular disease Chronic kidney disease Obesity-related cancers Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Dementia From curbing alcohol addictions to reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease, GLP-1s have the potential to become game-changing medications for an entire plethora of other conditions. Some benefits are, of course, a direct result of weight loss. Tirzepatide is now approved by regulators in the United States as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea, a dangerous midlife condition exacerbated by excess weight where breathing stops and starts dozens or hundreds of times during sleep, while research presented at the 2025 European Congress on Obesity showed that GLP-1s can almost halve the risk of obesity-related cancers. Semaglutide is also officially recognised by regulators as reducing risk of heart attack and stroke in people at higher risk of these conditions. 'We see improvements in things like cholesterol and other fats in the blood [when people take GLP-1s],' says Prof Wilding. 'Bad fats tend to go down and good fats tend to go up. We see lowering of blood pressure and general improvements in quality of life.' But research is also showing that GLP-1s can have even broader effects, curbing cravings for alcohol and other substances in people with long-term addictions, something which scientists believe relates to the impact of these drugs on reward pathways in the brain. Most fascinatingly of all, clinical trials are now formally testing whether these drugs can protect against the onset and progression of dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment, with studies in animals suggesting it can reduce inflammation in the brain and stimulate the repair of damaged nerve cells. What are the side effects? As with most drugs, there are downsides. These include: Nausea Constipation or diarrhoea Gallstones Pancreatitis Hypoglycaemia Allergic reactions Prof Wilding says that the majority of people who take GLP-1 drugs can expect some side effects, most commonly nausea and gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as constipation or diarrhoea. In a small number of cases, these issues can prove so intolerable that users end up quitting the medication, but the majority of users are able to cope by slowly tapering up the dose over time. 'If you look at the trials, 80-90 per cent of the people are able to stay on the medicine, but there are a significant minority who can't, just because of these GI side effects,' says Prof Wilding. Much rarer problems can also occur such as the formation of gallstones, which Wilding says can be a side effect of any form of weight loss, as well as pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. 'This can be a very serious medical condition which can be related to gallstones,' he adds. Because of the risk of side effects, researchers are keen to emphasise that these drugs are not benign and should be used with caution. In April 2025, researchers from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention assessed data from thousands of emergency department visits which had been directly linked to semaglutide. While gastrointestinal side effects were the main reason, the data showed that some patients also experienced allergic reactions to the drug and a sudden drop in blood sugars levels, known as hypoglycaemia, which in some cases required hospitalisation. 'It may be that semaglutide interacts with other medications, or that some people who use semaglutide stop eating to the point of severe hypoglycaemia,' says Dr Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and one of the study authors. According to Dr Whyte, side effects are less common with tirzepatide and there is a hope that this will also be the case with retatrutide. How available are GLP-1 weight-loss drugs? Despite the clamour for GLP-1s, their availability in the UK is still relatively restricted on the NHS. Drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are only available to people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35, as well as at least one obesity-related health problem such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea. On a private basis though, the restrictions are less strict. The drugs are officially licenced to be given to people with a BMI of over 30 or, as Dr Whyte says, doctors will prescribe it to people with a BMI over 27 providing that their weight is impacting their health. 'I'm not afraid to use it if they've got a BMI of 28 and significant fatty liver disease, or polycystic ovarian syndrome and they're struggling to conceive, that sort of thing,' says Whyte. Dr Whyte predicts that the prescribing of GLP-1s will become more nuanced than just the relatively arbitrary BMI figure. Instead, he says that tools such as bioimpedance scanners - smart scales which run a small, imperceptible electric current through your body to estimate your percentage of body fat – waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, will be used to determine who can benefit most. 'Hopefully licences for things like GLP-1s won't just be based on a BMI number,' he says. 'It will be about getting more of a grip on how much fat there is, whether it's abdominally distributed, which is more harmful, and then looking at the health consequences for that individual.' How much do they cost? The exact prices vary per clinic, as many services offer package deals which also incorporate weight loss coaching and advice alongside the drugs themselves. However, here are some prices offered by Asda and Superdrug Online Doctor services. Liraglutide (Saxenda) Saxenda is currently out of stock in the UK, both on the NHS and across private services. However according to Asda Online Doctor, a generic version of Saxenda is now available under the name of Nevolat, with prices starting from £127.00 Semaglutide (Wegovy) According to Superdrug Online Doctor, monthly prices for Wegovy begin from £195 per month for the lowest dose regimen (0.25mg/week). The highest dosing plan (2.4mg/week) costs £295 per month. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) Again prices vary from £215 per month for the lowest dose (2.5mg/week) to £245 per month for the highest dose (15mg/week), according to Superdrug Online Doctor.
Medscape
17 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Can GLP-1s Protect Against Obesity-Related Cancers?
New data suggest that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, used to treat diabetes and obesity, may also help guard against obesity-related cancers. In a large observational study, new GLP-1 agonist users with obesity and diabetes had a significantly lower risk for 14 obesity-related cancers than similar individuals who received dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, which are weight-neutral. This study provides a 'reassuring safety signal' showing that GLP-1 drugs are linked to a modest drop in obesity-related cancer risk, and not a higher risk for these cancers, said lead investigator Lucas Mavromatis, medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, during a press conference at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 annual meeting. However, there were some nuances to the findings. The protective effect of GLP-1 agonists was only significant for colon and rectal cancers and for women, Mavromatis reported. And although GLP-1 users had an 8% lower risk of dying from any cause, the survival benefit was also only significant for women. Still, the overall 'message to patients is GLP-1 receptor treatments remain a strong option for patients with diabetes and obesity and may have an additional, small favorable benefit in cancer,' Mavromatis explained at the press briefing. 'Intriguing Hypothesis' Obesity is linked to an increased risk of developing more than a dozen cancer types, including esophageal, colon, rectal, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic, kidney, postmenopausal breast, ovarian, endometrial and thyroid, as well as multiple myeloma and meningiomas. About 12% of Americans have been prescribed a GLP-1 medication to treat diabetes and/or obesity. However, little is known about how these drugs affect cancer risk. To investigate, Mavromatis and colleagues used the Optum healthcare database to identify 170,030 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes from 43 health systems in the United States. Between 2013 and 2023, half started a GLP-1 agonist and half started a DPP-4 inhibitor, with propensity score matching used to balance characteristics of the two cohorts. Participants were a mean age of 56.8 years, with an average body mass index of 38.5; more than 70% were White individuals and more than 14% were Black individuals. During a mean follow-up of 3.9 years, 2501 new obesity-related cancers were identified in the GLP-1 group and 2671 in the DPP-4 group — representing a 7% overall reduced risk for any obesity-related cancer in the GLP-1 group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93). When analyzing each of the 14 obesity-related cancers separately, the protective link between GLP-1 use and cancer was primarily driven by colon and rectal cancers. GLP-1 users had a 16% lower risk for colon cancer (HR, 0.84) and a 28% lower risk for rectal cancer (HR, 0.72). 'No other cancers had statistically significant associations with GLP-1 use,' Mavromatis told briefing attendees. But 'importantly, no cancers had statistically significant adverse associations with GLP-1 use,' he added. Experts have expressed some concern about a possible link between GLP-1 use and pancreatic cancer given that pancreatitis is a known side effect of GLP-1 use. However, 'this is not borne out by epidemiological data,' Mavromatis said. 'Additionally, we were not able to specifically assess medullary thyroid cancer, which is on the warning label for several GLP-1 medications, but we did see a reassuring lack of association between GLP-1 use and thyroid cancer as a whole,' he added. During follow-up, there were 2783 deaths in the GLP-1 group and 2961 deaths in the DPP-4 group — translating to an 8% lower risk for death due to any cause among GLP-1 users (HR, 0.92; P = .001). Mavromatis and colleagues observed sex differences as well. Women taking a GLP-1 had an 8% lower risk for obesity-related cancers (HR, 0.92; P = .01) and a 20% lower risk for death from any cause (HR, 0.80; P < .001) compared with women taking a DPP-4 inhibitor. Among men, researchers found no statistically significant difference between GLP-1 and DPP-4 use for obesity-related cancer risk (HR, 0.95; P = .29) or all-cause mortality (HR, 1.04; P = .34). Overall, Mavromatis said, it's important to note that the absolute risk reduction seen in the study is 'small and the number of patients that would need to be given one of these medications to prevent an obesity-related cancer, based on our data, would be very large.' Mavromatis also noted that the length of follow-up was short, and the study assessed primarily older and weaker GLP-1 agonists compared with newer agents on the market. Therefore, longer-term studies with newer GLP-1s are needed to confirm the effects seen as well as safety. In a statement, ASCO President Robin Zon, MD, said this trial raises the 'intriguing hypothesis' that the increasingly popular GLP-1 medications might offer some benefit in reducing the risk of developing cancer. Zon said she sees many patients with obesity, and given the clear link between cancer and obesity, defining the clinical role of GLP-1 medications in cancer prevention is 'important.' This study 'leads us in the direction' of a potential protective effect of GLP-1s on cancer, but 'there are a lot of questions that are generated by this particular study, especially as we move forward and we think about prevention of cancers,' Zon told the briefing.
Globe and Mail
18 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Novo Nordisk's 52% Plunge: Is the Company Fumbling Its Leadership in the $150 Billion Weight Loss Market?
Nothing attracts competition like the opportunity for profits, and the weight loss drug market has become arguably the healthcare industry's hottest opportunity in recent memory. Novo Nordisk(NYSE: NVO) has enjoyed tremendous success with semaglutide, the proprietary drug in Ozempic and Wegovy. However, competition is picking up with multiple next-generation drugs working through clinical testing. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » The market is worried about Novo Nordisk's grip on the weight loss market, evidenced by the stock plummeting over 52% from its mid-2024 high. Does Wall Street have it wrong, or is Novo Nordisk fumbling a generational growth opportunity? Here is what you need to know. The competition is heating up in the weight loss market Research by Morgan Stanley estimates the weight loss market could grow from roughly $15 billion last year to approximately $150 billion by 2035. GLP-1 agonists are currently the drug of choice, which slow digestion and suppress the patient's appetite. Novo Nordisk has an estimated 62% market share of the GLP-1 agonist market, with archrival Eli Lilly accounting for another 35%. Investors are looking ahead to next-generation drugs that could deliver better results with fewer side effects. That includes next-generation injectable treatments and pill-form drugs, which most patients probably prefer to a needle. Novo Nordisk hopes to receive regulatory approval to market and sell its semaglutide weight loss drug Wegovy in pill form by year-end. Meanwhile, CagriSema, currently in phase 3 clinical trials, is the company's next-generation injectable drug. However, it has struggled to stand out from existing treatments in late-stage clinical tests. Will these products maintain Novo Nordisk's weight loss leadership? It's hard to tell. Eli Lilly's orforglipron has performed well in its initial phase 3 clinical testing. It's an oral pill and the first small-molecule GLP-1 agonist to pass a phase 3 study, which is potentially significant because small-molecule drugs are generally easier and cheaper to manufacture. There are dozens of weight loss drugs in various development stages across the industry, so competition is coming. Don't assume Novo Nordisk will lose its crown Novo Nordisk's competitors were never going to stand and watch it dominate a $150 billion opportunity, but that doesn't necessarily mean Novo Nordisk will lose its crown. Investors have grown afraid of competition, but the drug development process is extremely daunting. Far more drugs fail the regulatory process than reach the market. Pfizer, a fellow pharmaceutical heavyweight, had hopes to crack the weight loss market with its oral GLP-1 agonist danuglipron, but it abandoned development in April after it potentially caused a liver injury in a patient during clinical tests. Several factors ultimately decide which treatments patients choose, including efficacy, price, and side effects. In other words, it's probably unfair to conclude what will happen until these new and upcoming drugs have been on the market for a while. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly may continue to dominate market share, though they could trade blows, and the balance between them could shift. The stock's slide mitigates a lot of risk Still, investors and the market have assumed that Novo Nordisk will ultimately cede market share. Analysts have dramatically lowered their long-term earnings growth estimates for Novo Nordisk. But here is the good news -- the stock already reflects these lower expectations. Novo Nordisk trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 20 today, down from roughly 50 over the summer. Even if the market is correct and Novo Nordisk grows by an average of 14% annually, today's valuation is still attractive for that growth. That wouldn't be the case at 50 times earnings, but its current PEG ratio of 1.4 is an attractive price tag for an industry leader in a high-growth industry like this. There are always risks in the pharmaceutical business. Novo Nordisk could suffer an unexpected setback or drug failure, or a competitive drug could be so good that it tilts the balance of the weight loss market away from Novo Nordisk. Still, Novo Nordisk is a proven industry leader and probably deserves some more faith until proven otherwise. Barring a worst-case scenario, the stock has a good shot to work out well for long-term investors from these discounted prices. Should you invest $1,000 in Novo Nordisk right now? Before you buy stock in Novo Nordisk, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Novo Nordisk wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider whenNetflixmade this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation,you'd have $639,271!* Or when Nvidiamade this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation,you'd have $804,688!* Now, it's worth notingStock Advisor's total average return is957% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to167%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you joinStock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk. 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