UK approves new dose of weight loss drug that's three times as powerful
As many as 1.6 million adults in the UK used weight loss drugs like Mounjaro or Wegovy in the last year, and 3.3 million more have expressed an interest in taking GLP-1s this year.
So, with demand at an all-time high, the UK's medicine regulator has just approved a much stronger dose of Wegovy, which could support even bigger weight losses.
According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the new dose of 7.2mg is three times higher than the current approved dosage of 2.4mg, but could lead to even more than 20 percent weight loss.
Trials revealed that a third of adults who were classed as obese lost more than 25 percent of their body weight after taking the increased dose for 72 weeks.
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Meanwhile, over the pond in the US, the newest product on the weight loss market is the oral pill form of Wegovy, which is said to be significantly more cost effective but just as successful when it comes to shifting excess fat.
The medication, created by Wegovy and Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk, are now being sold to self-paying patients for a very reasonable $149 per month for the 1.5mg and 4mg doses.
Higher doses of the pill, with 9mg and 25mg, will be expected to pay $299 a month; unless you have insurance that covers it, meaning they will be significantly cheaper.
The Wegovy pill got the FDA approval back in December, and weight loss clinic physician Dr Christopher McGowan told NBC it represented 'a meaningful step forward in the field'.
The doctor explained that having weight loss drugs in pill form could help the medication have a greater impact, as people are more used to taking pills instead of injecting themselves.
"It won’t replace injectables, but it broadens our tool kit in an important way. Pills are familiar, non-intimidating and fit more naturally into most people’s routines," he said.
The pills are to be taken once a day, before any food or water is consumed, with users reporting similar side effects to those experienced when taking the injectable version of the drug.
Novo Nordisk said: "Wegovy pill is here, and it represents a significant innovation as the first and only GLP-1 pill for weight loss.
"This moment is about changing what's possible in weight management, and to make that possible, we have worked to ensure Wegovy pill is affordable and accessible to those who need it. However, they choose to receive their care.”
Emma Rosemurgey