A groundbreaking study reveals that fat cells retain a ‘memory’ of past obesity, potentially explaining why weight loss is so difficult to maintain. Epigenetic changes in fat cells, even after weight loss, may prime them for rapid regrowth when exposed to high-fat foods. This discovery sheds light on the complex interplay of factors contributing to weight cycling and highlights the importance of early intervention.
Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) has launched a GLP-1 Supply Tracker to highlight and address the growing difficulty Americans face in accessing branded GLP-1 medications for obesity. The tracker, which has already received nearly 7,000 reports in its first week, aims to provide valuable data to the FDA and advocate for improved healthcare access.
Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical giant, reported a slight miss on its third-quarter sales target, despite impressive year-over-year growth driven by its GLP-1 diabetes and obesity treatments. Wegovy sales skyrocketed 81%, while Ozempic sales climbed 26%. The company also tightened its full-year guidance, citing expected supply constraints.
AstraZeneca, through its exclusive licensing agreement with Eccogene, is advancing the development of ECC5004, a potential oral once-daily glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) for obesity treatment. Early data from clinical trials presented at ObesityWeek 2024 suggests ECC5004 exhibits a favorable safety profile, has the potential for once-daily dosing, and may be administered with or without food. This promising early data positions AstraZeneca to be a potential contender in the competitive weight loss market.
Viking Therapeutics’ VK2735 continues to demonstrate significant weight loss potential in clinical trials. New data from both Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials highlight the drug’s ability to induce substantial weight reduction and improve metabolic parameters. The company is evaluating both subcutaneous and oral formulations, demonstrating the versatility of VK2735 as a potential treatment for obesity.
Affidea, a leading European healthcare provider, has partnered with Reset Health to introduce the Roczen platform, a doctor-led digital solution for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. Roczen combines personalized treatment plans, GLP-1 medications, and lifestyle changes to improve health outcomes for patients across Affidea’s network.
Novo Nordisk, a leading pharmaceutical company, is developing CagriSema, a groundbreaking hybrid drug combining semaglutide and cagrilintide, aiming for 25% weight reduction with minimal side effects. This move comes amidst fierce competition from rivals like Eli Lilly, and CagriSema’s success could reshape the obesity treatment landscape.
The rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic has sparked a debate: will these medications solve America’s weight problem or exacerbate societal biases? This article explores the economic and cultural implications of easily attainable thinness, arguing that it could challenge the long-held association of thinness with wealth, discipline, and social status, potentially leading to a shift in beauty standards and a new era of body-conscious signalling.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, driven by a complex interplay of dietary changes, sedentary lifestyles, environmental factors, genetics, and mental health. This article explores the key contributors to the rise of obesity and highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to address this pressing public health issue.
Recent data suggests that the United States may have reached a turning point in its fight against obesity, with 2020 potentially marking the year when obesity rates peaked and began to decline. This potential shift is attributed to the emergence of new, highly effective weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which have shown remarkable results in clinical trials and are now being used by a significant portion of the US population.
