New diabetes and weight loss drug approved by FDA

New hope is here for people with type 2 diabetes in helping lower their blood sugar levels along with reductions in significant weight loss.  A new drug called Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).   Ozempic is a once-a-week injection that works by stimulating the body’s insulin production and reduces a person’s appetite.  The drug can be administered once weekly, on the same day each week, and can be taken any time of the day, with or without meals.

FDA approval of this drug is encouraging news for the more than 28 million Americans affected by type 2 diabetes and who struggle to lose weight.  Despite advancements over the years in treatments for diabetes, some people still find it difficult to achieve their A1C goals.  Having elevated A1C numbers means there is too much sugar or glucose in the blood.  Having too much sugar circulating in the blood is like little shards of glass that can do significant damage to multiple organs as it weakens circulation.  This places a person at a higher risk for complications of diabetes such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease, conditions affecting the eyes, and neuropathy causing weakness, numbness, and pain in hands, feet, and legs.

Many people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese making it vital for them to lose weight which helps them lower their A1C number which then lowers their risk for diabetes complications and gives them better control over their disease.

The Danish company Novo Nordisk, is the developer of Ozempic.  In a company-funded study, Ozempic on average, reduced long-term blood sugar levels at least 2 ½ times as much as Januvia, a popular daily diabetes pill.  Another added bonus was that it also helped study participants to lose two to three times as much weight as those in a comparison group.

In clinical trials involving more than 8,000 adults with type 2 diabetes, Ozempic was shown to help user lower A1C.  The A1C test is a blood test used to measure the average level of glucose in the blood over the last two to three months, and is used as a means of checking how well blood sugar levels are being controlled for a person with diabetes. 

What the study results showed was that over 56 weeks, patients who got a lower dose of Ozempic lost an average of 9.5 pouns (4.3 kilograms) while those who got a higher dose lost 13.5 pounds (6.1 kilograms).  Those who took Januvia lost an average of 4 pounds (1.9 kilograms).

Novo Nordisk has also been testing Ozempic separately for weight loss alone. 

Ozempic comes in injector pens and carries a cost of $676 for a four- to six-week supply without insurance, which is similar to other weekly drugs such as Victoza, which is a once-a-day shot. 

There are some side effects associated with Ozempic which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.  Less common but more serious adverse reactions could include thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, changes in vision, kidney failure, and serious allergic reactions.  At this time, it is not recommended for people under the age of 18, but the FDA is requiring Novo Nordisk to study the drug’s safety and effectiveness in this age category.