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Weight Watchers Taking on the Prescription Drug Market

Weight Watchers Taking on the Prescription Drug Market

by Mindy Cohn

It seems WeightWatchers will offer more than meal plans as it enters the trending market of prescription drugs that address obesity. 

Earlier this week, WeightWatchers announced its acquisition of Sequence, a telehealth operator that can prescribe weight loss medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Trulicity. WeightWatchers will pay $106 million for the telehealth company. The following morning, WW International Inc. shares jumped more than 31% in morning trading from the acquisition. 

"It is our responsibility, as the trusted leader in weight management, to support those interested in exploring if medications are right for them," CEO Sima Sistani said in a statement shared on Monday.

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, given as a weekly injection. Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists).

The drug works by stimulating insulin production in the body and suppressing appetite, leading to weight loss. Although Ozempic is only approved to treat diabetes, it is frequently prescribed for off-label use. 

The weight loss 'side effect' from Ozempic has drawn much attention, causing the drug to go viral on social media platforms. 

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, has made it clear that the medication is not meant for weight loss. It's intended to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise, but it can also help patients lose some weight. As with any drug, side effects can occur, such as possible thyroid tumors, including cancer; pancreatitis; kidney problems, and gallbladder problems. 

While these medications seem like the miracle many have been looking for, it is essential to consider their possible health implications - especially when taking them for an off-label purpose. Also, since these medications are relatively new, their long-term effects are not well known. 

According to a letter published in Science Direct on March 2, there are potentially serious adverse effects of GLP-1 agonists. The letter says, "While their efficacies and safety profiles are widely accepted, long-term adverse events such as increased risk of intestinal obstruction have been reported in diabetic patients, which is 4.5 times higher than those receiving other glucose control medications. A real-world study of 25,617 subjects demonstrated a 3.5-fold increase in the intestinal obstruction rate associated with GLP-1RA treatment."

photo credit: Flickr


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