Weight loss drugs are all the rage right now, but a game-changing new pill could soon be available for interested parties.
Ever since Ozempic first appeared in the celebrity sphere, millions of people have been desperate to get their hands on GLP-1 medications as seemingly a quick and easy way to lose weight.
Although the drugs, which were initially designed as treatments for those with Type 2 diabetes, can often come with a whole host of side effects, that has done little to decrease the huge interest in them.
Here in the UK, we've seen Wegovy added to the NHS for those who meet strict requirements, but the reality is that people are able to get their hands on the medication through online pharmacies, even when they might not necessarily need it.
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However, the popularity of the injections might well be nothing compared to some new pills which have previously been dubbed the 'holy grail' of weight loss drugs, after they were approved following some incredible trial results.
On 1 April, the Food and Drug Administration in the US officially approved Foundayo (Orforglipron) - a daily pill to treat obesity which has been developed by Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company which also produces Mounjaro.
It becomes the second pill to be approved by the FDA after a pill version of Wegovy was also given the nod in December, but expectations are high for Foundayo after patients shed an average of 12.4 percent of their body weight during clinical trials.
Patrik Jonsson, Eli Lily's European president, is still chasing a pill which will eradicate obesity forever, but he admitted that this is still many years away.
He said: "If we could be the ones that bring a once-and-done to treating obesity, that would be a huge contribution to humanity."
While Foundayo can't quite achieve that level just yet, it does show progress in the area, as it will be cheaper to manufacture, doesn't require refrigeration and can be taken with or without food.
How does Foundayo work?
Foundayo works in the same way as other GLP-1 antagonists, in that it suppresses appetite and slows digestion, keeping users feeling fuller for longer.
Dr Morris Laster pointed out the problems with GLP-1 medications when speaking to the Independent, saying: “Ozempic, GLP-1s, all of them do an amazing job for weight loss, but they have a number of side effects beyond the sheer cost of it. More than 80 percent of people who are on them stop taking it within a year, 30 percent within the first month.
"There are issues of panic with its potential for thyroid cancer, you feel nauseous often, you can have vomiting and diarrhoea.
“In addition to that, I think one of the big issues is that people don’t realise that the GLP-1 molecule itself, it’s in the pleasure centre of the brain. To use a colloquialism, it inhibits that dopamine squirt you get in the brain, which is essential for pleasure. And, unless you really modify your diet and lifestyle, once you stop taking the drug you will regain the weight.”
What are the side effects of Foundayo?
According to Eli Lily's website, serious side effects may include:
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Severe stomach problems
- Dehydration leading to kidney problems
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Serious allergic reactions
- Changes in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes
- Gallbladder problems
- Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)
The most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Stomach (abdominal) pain
- Headache
- Swollen belly
- Feeling tired
- Belching
- Heartburn
- Gas
- Hair loss
For now, it seems as if Foundayo will be the new kid on the block when it comes to weight loss drugs, and if reports are accurate, it may only be a matter of time before it arrives in the UK as well.
James Moorhouse