Latest news with #Tirzepatide
Epoch Times
a day ago
- Health
- Epoch Times
Diabetes Drug May Double the Risk of Diabetic Eye Disease in People Already at Risk
Tirzepatide, the popular diabetes drug sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, more than doubles the risk of developing a severe, sight-threatening eye condition in patients who already have eye damage, according to a large study published recently in Diabetologia. The research found that 1.1 percent of tirzepatide users developed proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)—a serious form of diabetic eye disease that can cause blindness—compared to just 0.5 percent of patients not taking the drug.
Mint
2 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Manu Joseph: Why drugs that eat our hunger won't cause a revolution
Two drugs are generating the sort of cultural excitement that only Viagra once did. Like Viagra, their effects are visible, and often not attributed to the medicine. Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, known by their brand names Ozempic and Mounjaro, were designed to treat diabetes. But as often happens with iconic drugs, their fame lies in what they do on the side. They reduce appetite. So, people eat less and lose weight. Doctors are taking these drugs too, which is a good sign. Not that they are paragons of health, but they know how patients respond to the drugs and so it suggests they consider them safe. Meanwhile, society is bracing for a behavioural revolution. A certain leanness—a non-muscular kind in middle-aged people that I already associate with these drugs—might become another motif of wealth. At the moment, the drugs are for the affluent, but that can change over time. There is even a view that once these drugs go off patent and generics flood the market, they may hurt the restaurant business. Also Read: What body positivity means in the age of Ozempic I doubt that. I think their impact will be modest. People do not eat because they're hungry, especially the rich. Even most of the poor no longer eat out of necessity alone. Nobody eats maida noodles and biryani out of hunger. For most people, eating is a form of entertainment. Even a source of happiness. Many people can bear the period between meals because they know food is coming. Many keep eating through the day because people do a lot of what is fun. Also, food is the most legit drug addiction. Some years ago, Silicon Valley fell in love with a powdered food called Soylent. Just add water and drink. It was engineered to provide all the nutrients the body needs. As the product didn't ship to India, I found an Indian version of it. I carried packets everywhere. I was sorted, I felt. I liked the idea of just drinking food and being done with it. I had defeated an ancient cultural force that had entrapped me through what I always viewed as an obsolete mode of nutrition. There is nothing wrong with Soylent, but its revolution never took off. People realized that life, as we've built it, revolves around food. Meals are where we meet. Efficiency is not the point. In fact, if we are efficient at all, it is in matters other than food, so that we can lavish our time on food. At first glance, drugs that kill appetite may appear to be different from a tasteless drink that merely has everything the body needs. The drugs don't replace food. People would still eat tasty meals, even if they eat less. They would meet friends over meals, but leave most of it on their plates. At first, people will be alright with it. They are having it all, they might say. Tasty food, but in forced moderation. Eventually, though, they would have had enough of it. Also Read: Ozempic, a patent challenge, and the $25 billion race for India's weight-loss drug market Semaglutide and Tirzepatide cannot address the underlying reasons why people eat and overeat. Imagine a pill that makes you want to watch less TV. Let us assume it works. What is the alternative to not wasting time on boring entertainment, an oxymoron that is the reality of the times? Actually, there is something that makes you want to watch less TV, and that's TV itself. Yet, people have nothing better to do. It is the same with food. Without food, life is so dreary to most people that they will eat even if they don't feel like eating. This is something they already do, anyway. Here is what will happen. These drugs will make the fit fitter. People who already work towards health or beauty will be the true beneficiaries of this medical intervention. Others will do things like having only desserts for meals, arguing that they are going to have little to eat anyway. Eventually, they will find ways to malign these drugs. They will have exaggerated complaints about their side effects and romanticize 'natural' hunger. They will insist the body knows best. If it is asking for food, they will say, and if 'nature' is demanding food, then there must be some reason; how can we let 'chemicals' come in the way of natural appetite? Never underestimate the things sugar can make people do. The effectiveness of these drugs raises an interesting question: If suppressing appetite still leaves a person healthy, then is normal eating just a form of overeating? How much food does a person really need? Also Read: Mounjaro in India: The speed bumps impacting access to weight loss drugs Probably far less than what most people eat. Statistically, on any given day, we over-eat or under-eat because, outside of theory, balance is not a real thing. Under-eating has its own risks. Muscle growth, for example, needs protein beyond the reduced consumption these drugs would induce. Strong muscles aren't just about vanity, they help regulate metabolism and maintain our health. Also, when the body faces an energy deficit, it does not simply burn fat. It switches some things off. Based on its own logic and hierarchies, it starts conserving energy by cutting what it considers less important. Like one's immune response. Or skin quality. Or hair health. It adapts to scarcity by becoming stingy with its resources. The same could happen here. People may stay lean but become weak, metabolically and bodily. We may then have unfit people who look thin. We may not understand what's been lost either. That will take years to discover. Also Read: 'We shouldn't use Mounjaro as a way to get skinny': Dr Alexandra Sowa If some people believe they look good just by taking a drug, they may stop working out if they have never enjoyed it. That would be a disaster. Exercise doesn't just burn fat. It does things modern life does not give us. Our true health is not what we appear to be, but what the body knows it has gone through, what it knows it can endure. The author is a journalist, novelist, and the creator of the Netflix series, 'Decoupled'
Mint
3 days ago
- Health
- Mint
From Wegovy to Ozempic: Which drugs are really APPROVED for weight loss in India, how costly are they?
Lost 120 kgs in 16 months, 55 kgs in 18 months, 20kgs in XX months and so the era of being 'fit and fine', the remarkable weight loss journey of several TV and film stars has left many wondering: Have they used any weight loss drug? Actor Ram Kapoor, producers Boney Kapoor and Sajid Nadiadwala, and rapper Badshaah are the latest to join the league.. The reasons they claimed for their weight loss were more or less the same: a balanced diet, discipline, exercise, and making some lifestyle changes. But their exceptional transformation led to speculation that they used blockbuster drugs like Novo Nordisk's Ozempic or Wegovy. Not just these, but many other anti-obesity drugs have entered the Indian market. Ozempic has not been officially launched in India. The market for weight-loss drugs in India is experiencing rapid growth. According to research firm Pharmarack, as cited by the Economic Times, the Indian anti-obesity drug market has seen substantial growth, reaching ₹ 628 crore as of June 2025, a fivefold increase over five years. Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk and US-based rival Eli Lilly have seen skyrocketing demand for their obesity drugs Wegovy and Zepbound. The market is estimated to grow to $150 billion globally by the early 2030s. How many anti-obesity drugs are available in India? How much do they cost? Are they really approved for weight loss? And do they help in weight loss? Here's all you need to know: Six weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for long-term use: Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave) Liraglutide (Saxenda) Orlistat (Xenical, Alli) Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia) Semaglutide (Wegovy) Setmelanotide (Imcivree) Tirzepatide (Zepbound) There are many drugs that are have not been licensed for the treatment of obesity. Tirzepatide: According to a reasearch paper in the International Journal of Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Pharma Research, Tirzepatide was approved by the Central Drug Standard Control in India recently in June 2024. Oral Semaglutide: According to Medanta, Oral Semaglutide is approved and available in India for use in type-2 diabetes and obesity only. Wegovy: Another injectable semaglutide Wegovy has been approved for weight loss in case of obesity without type-2 diabetes, and is available in India. It wa launched in India on June 24. Ozempic: Injectable semaglutide Ozempic is "not approved or available in India." Mounjaro: India's drug regulator has approved the launch Eli Lilly's weight-loss drug, Mounjaro, Reuters reported on June 26, 2025. It's once-weekly injectable featuring tirzepatide. Mounjaro's active ingredient, tirzepatide, has captured 8 percent of the market in India, Pharmarack said. Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss? No, Mounjaro isn't approved by the US FDA directly. However, its active ingredient, tripeptide, is approved for weight loss under the brand name Zepbound. But, in India, Mounjaro KwikPen has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for six dose strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg, the company was quoted by Reuters as saying. Cost in India: The drug is priced at ₹ 3,500 for a 2.5 mg vial and ₹ 4,375 for a 5 mg vial, the Hindu reported. Mounjaro, usually taken once a week, would then cost between ₹ 14,000 and ₹ 17,500 per month, depending on the dosage recommended by the doctor. The average monthly price of Mounjaro in the US. is about $1,000 to $1,200 (approximately ₹ 86,000 to ₹ 1 lakh). Rybelsus is used for diabetes treatment. It was introduced in India in 2022 as an oral drug and is hailed as a breakthrough in Type 2 diabetes treatment. Rybelsus contains the active substance semaglutide. Has Rybelsus been approved for weight loss? No. It has not been approved for weight loss. But the company claims it may help one lose some weight. "While many people in medical studies lost weight, some did gain weight," the company's website claimed. Cost in India: Rybelsus is available as tablets (3, 7 and 14 mg) and can only be obtained with a prescription. The monthly cost comes to approximately ₹ 10,000, Business Standard reported. Wegovy's active ingredient is semaglutide, and it dominates the market with a two-thirds share in India. Is Wegovy approved for weight loss? Yes, Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss, but only if you are above a certain weight. This once-weekly injectable weight loss treatment exclusively for chronic weight management is available in five strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. The FDA says Wegovy is approved to "reduce excess weight and maintain weight reduction long term in certain adults with obesity or overweight and certain children with obesity, for use in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity." COST: The cost of Wegovy in India ranges from ₹ 17,345 to ₹ 26,015 per month, depending on the dosage. -0.25 mg to 1 mg doses: ₹ 17,345/month -1.75 mg dose: ₹ 24,280/month -2.4 mg dose: ₹ 26,050/month This translates to roughly ₹ 4,366 per injection for the highest dose, as per Indian generic drugmakers, including Cipla, Dr Reddy's, Lupin and Cipla, have been racing to produce cheaper versions of Wegovy when semaglutide goes off patent in 2026. Semaglutide's patent is expected to expire in several countries next year, including in India in March. Semaglutide is the active ingredient of blockbuster drugs Wegovy and diabetes medicine Ozempic. Novo Nordisk, which says it controls about 70% of the global market for these drugs, will lose exclusivity in many markets from 2026, with patents in India expiring around April of next year. That patent expiration does not include the US, Europe or Japan. There are several local and international drugmakers eyeing the Indian market. They are: Dr Reddy's, which aims to launch a cheaper copycat version of Wegovy in 87 countries next year, says its strategy is to target countries where Novo Nordisk does not hold patents for semaglutide. Dr Reddy's initially plans to launch the generic version of semaglutide in Canada, India, Brazil, Turkey and other emerging markets, subject to patent expiry, Israeli was quoted by Reuters as saying. Biopharmaceutical company Biocon also plans to submit a request for approval to India's drug regulator by the end of 2026 and potentially launch in 2027 through a partner, CEO Siddharth Mittal told Reuters in an email interview. There are 'Prescription Medications' and 'off-label' medications which used in a way that's different from what the FDA has approved. 'Off-label' medication can be a: 'a drug approved for treating a different medical problem; two or more drugs at the same time; a drug for a longer time period than approved by the FDA,' as stated by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It says weight management medications aren't for everyone with a high Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or greater. It has been warned that while some anti-obesity drugs can be effective for weight loss, they may also carry potential risks and side effects, and their long-term safety is still being evaluated. A research paper published in September 2024 says that the effectiveness of Tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro) in reducing weight was superior to other drugs. 'But mild to moderate Gastrointestinal symptoms were present which were dose dependant and subsequently subsided,' it said. "Rarely, serious side effects can happen. That's why it's important to ask your health care provider about all treatment choices," Mayo Clinic says. "These drugs aren't for everyone," Mayo Clinic says. It advises one must not take prescription weight-loss drugs if you're trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding. Besides, weight-loss drugs can be expensive and aren't always paid for by insurance. 1. Nausea, vomiting would be the most common side effects of Semaglutide in clinical practice. 2. Loose motions are rare, but are a common reason for not being able to tolerate the drug. 3. Headache not responding to conventional pain medicines. The incidence of obesity and diabetes is rising in India, which ranks among the worst three globally for high obesity rates, according to a study published in the medical journal The Lancet. As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-21), overall, 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men are overweight or obese
New York Post
5 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Mounjaro boobs? Weight loss drug can shrink breast cancer tumors, says new study
Turns out that GLP-1 drugs aren't just slimming waistlines — they're shrinking tumors, too. A new study reports that mice shed about 20% of their body weight and saw their breast cancer tumors decrease after getting injected with tirzepatide, which is sold as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. 'Obesity is a significant risk factor for breast cancer,' said study author Amanda Kucinskas, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan. 4 Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, excluding skin cancers. okrasiuk – 'And while it is very preliminary data, our studies in mice suggest that these new anti-obesity drugs may be a way to reduce obesity-associated breast cancer risk or improve outcomes.' Tirzepatide is part of a class of GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, that reduce appetite by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone the body naturally produces after eating. Tirzepatide also mimics the effects of GIP, a gut hormone that stimulates insulin release and influences fat storage and appetite. For the new study, 16 young mice with breast cancer were fattened up and kept in a warm home to encourage obesity. 4 Tirzepatide is sold as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. K KStock – The mice were then given tirzepatide or a placebo every other day for 16 weeks. The researchers measured their tumor volumes twice a week, finding that as the mice shed the pounds and the fat stored in their livers, their tumors shrank accordingly. The findings were presented this month at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting. 'While these are very preliminary results, they suggest that this new anti-obesity drug may also have a beneficial impact on breast cancer outcomes,' Kucinskas said. 4 A new study reports that mice shed about 20% of their body weight and saw their breast cancer tumors decrease after getting injected with tirzepatide. romaset – Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, besides skin cancer. One in eight American women will likely be diagnosed with it at some point. There are several reasons why obesity is a major risk factor for breast cancer. 'Obesity causes widespread inflammation throughout the entire body, deregulating the balance of cell growth patterns, body defenses and the gut microbiome,' Dr. Sue Decotiis — an NYC-based medical weight loss doctor, who was not involved in the new study — told The Post. 'Even a modest reduction of fat could have an important anti-inflammatory effect.' Excess abdominal fat can also lead to higher estrogen levels. Hormonal imbalances promote breast cancer development, Decotiis said. Plus, obesity is often associated with higher-than-normal levels of insulin in the blood, which can stimulate the production of estrogen in fat tissue. 'In my clinical weight loss practice, all secondary benefits from GLP-1 drugs occurred in patients who lost not weight, but a significant reduction in fat,' Decotiis said. 4 Obesity is a major risk factor for breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women. Choi_ Nikolai – Although GLP-1 meds have been hailed as 'wonder drugs,' there are risks associated with them. Side effects can include gastrointestinal distress and, less often, hair loss and skin pain. Blindness and behavioral changes can occur in very rare cases. Decotiis noted that tirzepatide is often better tolerated than the other meds because it can cause less nausea and vomiting while also spurring more weight loss. Meanwhile, research continues on the potential for these drugs to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, improve sleep apnea, reduce alcohol cravings and treat liver disease, among other conditions. 'Hold on to your hats and buckle up as this category of drug grows and we see more of their wide range of positive effects and learn more about their mechanisms,' Decotiis said.
Medscape
7 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Tirzepatide Tops TRT for Men With Hypogonadism and Obesity
San Francisco — Tirzepatide is a promising treatment for metabolic hypogonadism in men with obesity, new research suggested. In a study of 83 men with obesity, functional hypogonadism, and insulin resistance, those treated with the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist tirzepatide for 2 months had greater weight loss, increased endogenous testosterone production, and improved erectile dysfunction compared to those treated with transdermal testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) or who received no treatment. 'Tirzepatide offers a dual benefit, substantial weight loss and restoration of gonadal function in obese men. This may change first-line management strategies for metabolic hypogonadism, encouraging a shift away from immediate testosterone supplementation in select patients,' lead study author Rossella Cannarella, MD, research fellow in the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy, told Medscape Medical News . She added, 'Unlike TRT, which suppresses gonadotropins, tirzepatide appears to restore axis function. This offers an alternative for functional hypogonadism that addresses root metabolic causes rather than symptomatically replacing testosterone.' Cannarella presented the findings at ENDO 2025: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting. The data were also published recently in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology . Asked to comment, session co-moderator Olena Klindukhova, MD, assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, told Medscape Medical News , 'there are a number of good publications in the past on bariatric surgery patients who were able to achieve improvement in fertility, in testosterone level, and all aspects of sexual function. So, we were waiting the GLP-1 data to come in, and it's great to hear. It will definitely empower my clinical practice. Having patients achieve weight loss will improve their physiologic, natural production of testosterone. This gives us more validation.' Tirzepatide Tops Testosterone in Metabolic, Hormonal Improvements The study participants were allocated to three groups, based on their preferences, health status, and overall circumstances: 28 to tirzepatide (2.5 mg for the first month, increased to 5 mg in the second month), 30 to no pharmacological treatment, and 25 to transdermal testosterone. All were instructed to follow a low-calorie diet and to engage in 20 minutes per day of brisk walking. At baseline, all patients had ED, with International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores ranging from 5 to 12. At least half in each group were classified as having severe ED. Baseline waist circumference was significantly higher in the no-treatment group, while baseline scores on the Binge Eating Scale (BES), percentage lean mass, and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were all significantly higher in the tirzepatide-treated group. After 2 months, the tirzepatide group showed significantly greater improvements from baseline than the other two groups in body weight (-8.1%, vs -2.4% and -3.0% for lifestyle only and testosterone, respectively, P = .0007), BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, and BES score. The tirzepatide group also had a greater increase in lean mass than the lifestyle-alone group but not the testosterone group. All groups showed reductions in insulin resistance, with those in the two pharmacologic treatment groups showing greater reductions than the lifestyle-only group. The increase in IIEF-5 was higher in the tirzepatide group than the lifestyle-only group, and also higher than the testosterone group although not significantly. With tirzepatide, levels of LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and total testosterone were significantly higher than in the other two groups, while 17β-estradiol (E 2 ) was lower (all P < .00001). The testosterone-treated group showed smaller changes in most parameters, including a slight increase in E 2 levels. Also asked to comment, session co-moderator Maja Stefanovic-Racic, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and director of the endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism fellowship training program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, told Medscape Medical News , 'I was very impressed is that the GLP-1 improved erectile dysfunction, because we know that especially in obese men, adding testosterone often does not improve ED at all. This may relate to endothelial function outside of weight.' Indeed, Cannarella also pointed out that weight loss might not be the only mechanism contributing to all the observed improvements. 'While weight loss undoubtedly plays a major role, the magnitude and speed of hormonal recovery — along with increases in gonadotropins (LH, FSH) and SHBG [sex hormone-binding globulin] — suggest that tirzepatide may exert additional regulatory effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.' Klindukhova commented, 'from an endocrinologist standpoint, if there's a patient who is open to it, I would personally go for GLP-1 over testosterone.' Cannarella, Klindukhova, and Stefanovic-Racic had no disclosures.
