Latest news with #semaglutide
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Novo Nordisk shares plummet as 2025 guidance is cut, overshadowing new CEO
Just under a week after losing a key court trial that would have protected its blockbuster drug Wegovy (semaglutide) from market competition, Novo Nordisk has slashed its 2025 sales outlook, prompting investor concern. Novo Nordisk, holder of one of the largest market capitalisations in Europe, warned that full-year sales growth was expected to be 8% to 14%, a steep climbdown from its already-cut May forecast of 13% to 21%. Shares in the Danish drugmaker dropped a sizeable 21.7% to DKK346.9 at market close on 29 July following the announcement. Shares rallied by only 2% on 30 July at market open, representing a subdued new day opening. The share plunge wiped more than €60bn ($69bn) from the company's value. The stock's drift on the Copenhagen stock exchange nearly overshadowed Novo Nordisk's appointment of a new CEO. It was confirmed that Maziar Mike Doustdar, currently Novo's EVP of international operations, will take the helm of the metabolic disease specialist. He succeeds Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, who parted ways with Novo in May amid concern that the company was falling behind rivals in the weight loss market. Share price in Novo has been gradually declining since late 2024 due to competition in the metabolic disease space. Doustdar will have his work cut out to restore Novo to its perch in the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) market. Eli Lilly has taken a lead with sales for tirzepatide, in part due to its higher efficacy. Analysis by GlobalData in January 2025 demonstrated that tirzepatide was outpacing semaglutide in the obesity market, the former having a higher sale ceiling forecast by 2031. Last year, Eli Lilly's sales grew 32% compared to 26% for Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk blamed lower growth expectations for Wegovy in the US obesity market for its cut 2025 guidance. Lower growth expectations for diabetes drug Ozempic in the US GLP-1RA market was also highlighted, as well as lower-than-expected penetration for Wegovy in international markets. Lower sales have not solely been caused by Eli Lilly – the rise in compounded semaglutide has eroded market share for Novo Nordisk. These alternatives were cheaper and more accessible for patients, the competition forcing Novo to cut the price of Wegovy in the US. The company has maintained that continued compounding is unlawful and unsafe. 'For Wegovy in the US, the sales outlook reflects the persistent use of compounded GLP-1s, slower-than-expected market expansion and competition,' Novo Nordisk said in a statement. A further blow was dealt earlier this week after a Delaware court ruled that patents for a weight loss drug manufactured by Viatris, currently awaiting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), do not infringe on Wegovy. Doustdar, who joined Novo in 1992, is not the only executive change happening at the company. The drugmaker is merging early R&D and development into a single unit. Martin Holst Lange, currently EVP of development, will become chief scientific officer on 7 August. Doustdar will assume the role of CEO on the same date. The CEO-to-be said in his first statement: 'I come to this role with a sense of urgency, a laser focus on high performance, and a fierce determination for Novo Nordisk to aim higher than it's ever done, and to deliver to many more patients the innovation they need.' "Novo Nordisk shares plummet as 2025 guidance is cut, overshadowing new CEO" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Medical News Today
4 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss may also help control asthma
Researchers based in the United Kingdom recently examined how GLP-1 agonist drugs impact asthma in people with taking GLP-1 medications had better-controlled asthma overall, though there was no difference in lung function compared to those not taking study suggests that GLP-1 drugs may have anti-inflammatory effects that benefit the lungs. Healthcare providers often prescribe GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) or liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda) for type 2 diabetes control and weight loss. As these medications increase in popularity, researchers are looking into other ways these drugs can be useful. Recent research shows that GLP-1 medications may reduce obesity-related cancer risk and may lower dementia from the University of Aberdeen and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute in the United Kingdom recently examined how these medications impact asthma control in people with obesity. They found that people taking GLP-1 medications had better-controlled asthma findings are published in the journal Advances in how GLP-1 drugs impact asthmaGLP-1 receptor agonists are a type of medication that mimic the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 to help regulate blood sugar, increase insulin secretion, reduce gastric emptying, and increase appetite satiety. These medications treat type 2 diabetes and assist in weight loss in people who are either overweight or have obesity. GLP-1s have shown anti-inflammatory effects, and since an inflammatory response triggers asthma, researchers in the current study wanted to see what effects these medications have on people with obesity and asthma. The study examined around 60,000 people, including more than 10,000 people with both obesity and asthma taking GLP-1 drugs and around 50,000 matched controls. The researchers used data from the Optimum Patient Care Research order to qualify for inclusion in the study, the participants needed to have had an asthma consultation in the 12 months before starting the GLP-1 medication. They also had to be at least 18 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, which indicates obesity. Each participant in the GLP-1 group was matched 5:1 with participants who had similar characteristics but had not taken GLP-1 medications. People on GLP-1 drugs had marked asthma improvementThe researchers used an average of 3 years of follow-up data to determine how well people with asthma who were on GLP-1 medications did compared to people in the matched group. They used the participants' baseline risk domain asthma control (RDAC) and overall asthma control (OAC) scores and compared these to scores taken during follow-up. While the GLP-1 group had a higher average BMI and worse asthma control before starting the GLP-1 drugs, they had 'significant' improvements in their asthma scores after being on the GLP-1 medication for a GLP-1 group did not differ much from the matched group at the end of the study in terms of lung function. The authors point to missing data due to the COVID-19 pandemic on this measurement.'Obese asthmatics are unique in that they are often steroid-resistant, and it is possible that mechanistic differences in obese asthmatics and weight loss with GLP1 may have pleomorphic effects on inflammation beyond just weight loss,' the study authors the study findings demonstrate that GLP-1 medications have the potential to positively impact asthma in people with obesity. Further research is needed, though, especially to determine whether these medications can one day be used to treat respiratory issues. Experts disagree on whether GLP-1 contributes to asthma controlJimmy Johannes, MD, pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, spoke with Medical News Today about the study.'This study further supports the link between weight loss, in this case with GLP-1 drugs, and improved asthma control,' said Johannes. 'It also raises the possibility that GLP-1 drugs may be helpful for the treatment of asthma.'Johannes discussed the mechanism by which the GLP-1 drugs improved asthma and noted that there are GLP-1 receptors in the lungs. 'GLP-1 receptor agonists may be able to directly reduce the inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness that contribute to asthma,' Johannes explained. Thomas Kilkenny, DO, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary & Critical Care at Northwell's Staten Island University Hospital, also spoke with MNT about the did not think the study adequately demonstrated that GLP-1 medications were responsible for the improved asthma control and suggested that the improvements could be related to weight loss. Is it GLP-1s or weight loss?'It has been shown multiple times in the past, and various studies show that weight loss alone improves asthma control. This study did not comment on whether the GLP-1 medication had a direct effect on the physiology of asthma control.'— Thomas Kilkenny, DOKilkenny explained that weight loss alone improves asthma control for several reasons, including 'a decrease in the low-grade inflammation that is associated with obesity.'
Medscape
5 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
ADA 2025: Clinical Trial Data on Incretin Therapies
This transcript has been edited for clarity. At the ADA meetings this year, incretin therapies were a big topic. There were many, many different studies presented on all sorts of new drugs and older drugs, and a large amount of interest in this. What I'm going to try to do is make it simple, and you're going to have to forgive me because many of these drugs have names that are almost impossible to pronounce. As far as I can tell, there were three main areas that involved incretins. One was newer agents that were different combinations of different kinds of drugs. I'm going to touch on those main areas where there were differences. The second is in terms of the forms for delivery, specifically a new oral form of incretin therapy that might be easier for patients to take. Third, longer duration of activity of these agents that might make it even easier for our patients to adhere to. First, I'm going to go to different combinations. The first is CagriSema, which is semaglutide plus cagrilintide, which is a long-acting human amylin analog. We all were familiar with amylin from a long while ago, as we had pramlintide. This takes that amylin analog and mixes it with a dose of 2.4 mg of semaglutide. The studies that they did are called REDEFINE, and they presented the full results of the phase 3 REDEFINE trials. In most of the studies on these newer agents, they basically study them in people who are overweight or obese without type 2 diabetes, as well as in people who are overweight or obese with type 2 diabetes. REDEFINE 1 looked at 3417 people who were overweight or obese and who didn't have type 2 diabetes. They saw 20% weight loss with this new agent compared to 15% with semaglutide 2.4 mg, or 12% weight loss with cagrilintide alone. In REDEFINE 2, there were 1206 people with obesity and type 2 diabetes compared to placebo. CagriSema conferred a 13.7% weight loss vs 3.4% with placebo. That's fairly standard for many of these drugs. You get weight loss and A1c reduction, and it's always a bit more in people without diabetes than those who have diabetes. Moving on to the next combination. There was the DREAMS-1 trial, looking at a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist combined with a glucagon receptor agonist, which is called mazdutide. It was studied in people in China with type 2 diabetes. This showed a nice A1c reduction and significant weight loss at 24 weeks. This was a study in 319 individuals who were living in China. They had a number of different arms to this study, so they had a 4-mg dose, a 6-mg dose, and placebo. The study lasted for 24 weeks, and they saw A1c reductions of 1.4%-2%. There was weight loss that varied depending on the dose, at 5.6% or 7.8% in the two different arms. There were similar side effects. I think one of the truths of all of these trials is that the GI side effects occur with nearly all of these agents, some to a greater degree than others, but those were the major side effects in terms of this agent. They're now studying it in other individuals with type 2 diabetes. They compared it to dulaglutide and found a greater A1c reduction than with dulaglutide in one trial. They're also looking at it for weight loss in people without diabetes. There are a number of trials that are ongoing that will give us more data in terms of what this combination does in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The next trial is one that I find oddly fascinating, which is called the BELIEVE trial. Believe it or not, this is a trial in which they took semaglutide and mixed it with a monoclonal antibody that blocks activin type II receptors, with the hopes that that will improve muscle mass, maintain lean body mass, and decrease fat mass as people lose weight with this combination. They studied it in people who were living with obesity or overweight without type 2 diabetes, and they basically had a number of different comparisons. The monoclonal antibody is called bimagrumab. It's something that I'm not familiar with, but it was really interesting in terms of its effect. They had a number of different groups: a placebo group, a low-dose bimagrumab group, a high-dose bimagrumab group, a low-dose semaglutide group, and a high-dose semaglutide group, and then they had four different combination groups with low-dose or high-dose bimagrumab. They looked at all of these different permutations in a study sample size that was 507 individuals. They were hoping to see less loss of lean body mass, and they basically showed this. There was a 7.9% reduction in lean body mass with semaglutide alone, but if you gave them the monoclonal antibody, there was a 2.3% gain in lean body mass. When you combined the monoclonal antibody with semaglutide, you got a lesser reduction in lean body mass, a 2.6% reduction, which was compared to the 7.9% reduction with semaglutide alone. This is hopeful in the sense that this specific combination helps people lose less lean body mass. There were a whole bunch of other analyses they did to see about people being stronger and feeling better. It really does matter to not lose so much lean body mass. I'm still old fashioned and I really want to encourage people to exercise and eat well in order to help preserve lean body mass. We'll see what happens with this. I think it's a fascinating concept, but I also don't want to forget about lifestyle. The next trial was called ACHIEVE-1, and this was looking at an oral form of a GLP-1 receptor agonist known as orforglipron. They studied this in people with type 2 diabetes. What's different about this is that this is a small molecule. It's not a peptide GLP-1, so it's really easy to give. It's like any old pill that people take, so it doesn't have restrictions around how much water and when it's taken, etc. They did see benefit in terms of A1c reduction, some weight loss, about 8%, and it seemed like it worked, but it did have GI side effects and it didn't cause the same sort of A1c reduction or weight loss we see with some of the other injectable compounds. Still, it might be an interesting first step for people as they get used to GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy, and it may be easier for patients to take. The final compound I'm going to discuss is MariTide. This is a compound that is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and a GIP antagonist. This is a once-a-month agent. This was a 52-week trial in individuals who were obese or overweight without type 2 diabetes. They basically had three different doses they were studying and they did a bunch of different dosing frequencies. It seemed to me to be effective in terms of weight loss, as most of these drugs are, but it did have an incredibly high rate of GI side effects. When you look at that study in individuals without type 2 diabetes, the rates of nausea and vomiting were really high. At baseline, 25% of placebo patients reported nausea. In the treatment group, nausea was reported in 77%-87% of participants and vomiting was reported in 68%-92%. It usually occurred after the very first dose of the drug, with an incidence decreasing over time. I've never used a drug that had such a high rate of vomiting — nausea, potentially, but not vomiting. GI side effects were the main reason for people stopping it, and 14%-29% of individuals discontinued the drug due to adverse events. They also did a study in people with type 2 diabetes. It's interesting because they used a different survey to assess GI side effects, but they still had a very high rate of GI side effects, at 94% in the MariTide group vs 81% in the placebo group. Again, the most common GI side effects were nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. Nausea rates ranged from 41% to 59% of people taking the MariTide, with vomiting in 45%-75% of participants. These GI side effects are really clear here, and I don't know that this is going to be something people are going to want to take. Once a month is nice, but it's not fun to vomit. I think it depends on how quickly people habituate to this and how one goes up on the dose. These GI side effects are an issue for all of us and our patients as we prescribe these drugs. I tend to start as low as I possibly can. I'm a fan of microdosing as much as possible to get people to tolerate these drugs because I think that the incretin class of drugs is so beneficial, not only in terms of glucose and weight loss, but also in its nonglycemic effects. I also don't want people to lose weight too fast because I think that it isn't healthy. I know that there are studies that are coming out that show that there are people who respond by very rapid weight loss, more commonly in women than in men. I think we need to be mindful of how we use these drugs, how quickly people lose weight, and how we encourage people in terms of leading a healthier lifestyle to avoid some of the side effects that can be associated with that sort of rapid weight loss. This has been Dr Anne Peters for Medscape.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
The 7 foods that could protect you from common fat jab side effect, suggest scientists
WOMEN and older adults who use increasingly popular weight-loss drug semaglutide could protect themselves from a common side effect by eating more protein, say scientists. It may be an important step in reducing insulin resistance and preventing frailty in people with obesity, they add. 1 A previous study presented at ENDO 2025 suggested women and older adults using semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, for weight loss may be at a higher risk of losing muscle mass. Muscle loss, also referred to as lean mass loss, is a frequent consequence of weight reduction in people with obesity. According to lead researcher Dr Melanie Haines of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in a new study, this type of muscle loss can negatively influence metabolism and bone health. That's because muscle helps manage blood sugar levels after eating and contributes to bone strength. According to a study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, up to 40 per cent of the total weight lost while using semaglutide may be lean mass. But Dr Haines noted it's still unclear which patients are most likely to lose muscle and how this muscle loss might impact blood sugar control. To explore this further, researchers observed 40 adults with obesity over a three-month period. Of these participants, 23 were treated with semaglutide, while the remaining 17 took part in a weight-loss programme called Healthy Habits for Life (HHL), which focuses on diet and lifestyle changes. The team then monitored shifts in the participants' muscle mass over the course of the study. They found participants who were prescribed semaglutide lost more weight than those who participated in the diet and lifestyle programme. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons But the percent of weight loss that was lean mass was similar between the two groups. After accounting for weight loss, the researchers found in the semaglutide group, being older, female, or eating less protein was linked to greater muscle loss. Losing more muscle was also linked to less improvement in blood sugar levels. 'Older adults and women may be more likely to lose muscle on semaglutide, but eating more protein may help protect against this,' Haines said. 'Losing too much muscle may reduce the benefits of semaglutide on blood sugar control. "This means preserving muscle during weight loss with semaglutide may be important to reduce insulin resistance and prevent frailty in people with obesity.' There are both animal and plant-based sources of protein. Here are seven to include in your diet: Animal sources Lean meats - chicken breast, turkey, beef, and pork are excellent sources of high-quality protein, offering a range of vitamins and minerals. Fish - salmon, tuna, and other fish are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Eggs - a complete protein source, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. Dairy - milk, yogurt (especially Greek yogurt), and cheese (especially cottage cheese) are good sources of protein and calcium. Plant-based sources Legumes - beans, lentils, and peas are excellent sources of protein, fibre, and other nutrients. Nuts and seeds - almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds offer protein, healthy fats, and vitamins. Tofu and soy products - tofu, tempeh, and edamame are good sources of protein, particularly for vegetarians and vegans. In the UK, semaglutide for weight loss is available under the brand name Wegovy, and is prescribed through specialist weight management services within the NHS. It's an injectable medication (once weekly) that is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Ozempic, another semaglutide medication, is specifically for type 2 diabetes and is available on the NHS. What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
Medical News Today
7 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
What happens when you stop using Wegovy?
Weight regain and increased appetite are common after stopping Wegovy (semaglutide). Understanding the effects of stopping treatment is important to manage long-term weight loss expectations. Your doctor can help you stop Wegovy while still maintaining your weight management goals. Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist used for weight loss and weight management and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events. Stopping Wegovy, especially suddenly, can affect your body and weight management reading to learn what happens when you stop Wegovy to stop WegovyWegovy is meant to be a long-term medication for certain people with obesity or overweight. If you need to stop taking the medication for any reason, be sure to talk with your doctor about how to safely stop your treatment. You should not stop taking Wegovy suddenly, or 'cold turkey.'Your doctor can provide guidance on stopping Wegovy to help reduce the risk of certain effects. They can also adjust your diet and exercise regimen and help monitor your progress after stopping treatment. Following a personalized plan can help maintain the progress you achieved with effects of stopping WegovyStopping Wegovy treatment can have different effects. This is because GLP-1 levels will decrease after stopping the medication. And your GLP-1 levels will return to what's normal for your is a hormone that's involved in several processes, including blood sugar and insulin regulation, management of appetite and satiety, and protective cardiovascular effects. The active ingredient in Wegovy, semaglutide, mimics the effects of GLP-1, which promotes weight loss and reduced appetite, among other effects.»Learn more about how Wegovy regainIf you've lost weight with Wegovy, stopping treatment may cause weight regain. This is sometimes called 'Ozempic rebound'. (Ozempic contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Wegovy, but it comes in smaller doses and is approved for different uses. Unlike Wegovy, Ozempic is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] for weight loss or weight management.)In a 2021 clinical trial, adults with overweight or obesity who used Wegovy for 20 weeks and then switched to a placebo (a treatment with no active drug) had a weight increase of nearly 7%. This was in comparison to adults who continued Wegovy treatment after 20 weeks and lost nearly 8% of their weight over the next 48 weeks of in a 2022 clinical trial, adults who stopped taking Wegovy after 68 weeks of Wegovy treatment regained two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year of stopping to these effects, Wegovy is typically taken long-term to maintain weight loss or weight management. If you have concerns about weight regain after stopping Wegovy, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the best course of action for of cardiovascular benefits and increased blood sugarStopping treatment with Wegovy may affect your risk of experiencing major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke. For people taking Wegovy to reduce the risk of these events, the risk may return to original levels when Wegovy treatment was shown in a 2022 clinical trial, in which most cardiovascular benefits that adults experienced with Wegovy went back to baseline after stopping treatment for 1 year. (Here, baseline refers to the original level of cardiovascular risk before Wegovy treatment began.)If you stop treatment with Wegovy, you may experience the following cardiovascular symptoms: increased blood pressureincreased cholesterol levelsirregular heartbeatnausea and vomitingheadacheschest paindizzinessdifficulty breathingnosebleedsbuzzing in the earsvision changesconfusionanxietyAlso in the same study, prediabetes returned in some people who used Wegovy for 68 weeks and then stopped treatment. So if you have high blood sugar levels and stop using Wegovy, symptoms of your high blood sugar levels may return. These may include:weaknessfatigueblurry visionsweatinggum bleeding or skin infections that keep coming backslow wound healingDue to these effects, your doctor will likely suggest other ways to manage your risk of cardiovascular problems and high blood sugar levels. They may recommend taking certain other medications or other lifestyle withdrawal symptomsWithdrawal refers to experiencing side effects after you stop taking a substance that your body has become dependent on. Wegovy hasn't been specifically reported to cause dependence or withdrawal. (With dependence, your body needs a substance in order to function as usual.) However, people who stop Wegovy may experience certain symptoms due to their GLP-1 levels going back to normal. These symptoms may include:increased appetitereduced feeling of fullness changes in moodchanges in energy levels If you have concerns about these symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage them effectively while transitioning off Wegovy the weight off after stopping WegovyAfter stopping Wegovy, it's important to have a plan in place to help prevent weight gain or continue your weight management efforts. This can also help your overall health. Ways to help prevent weight gain include: maintaining a balanced diet with nutrient-dense foodssticking with your exercise routine or adjusting it based on your doctor's recommendationsstaying hydrated with water or low calorie beveragesgetting enough sleep managing stress levels monitoring your weight periodicallyYou can work with your doctor to develop a plan to keep the weight off after stopping Wegovy. Preliminary research has also shown that people taking semaglutide maintained weight loss by tapering (slowly lowering) their dosage before completely stopping treatment. So to help prevent weight regain, your doctor may slowly lower your Wegovy dosage before stopping the what happens when you stop using Wegovy is important to help prevent weight gain, continue long-term weight management efforts, and maintain cardiovascular health. By working closely with your doctor and adopting certain lifestyle habits, it's possible to safely and effectively stop Wegovy Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
