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While many employer plans cover the weight-loss drug Ozempic as a diabetes treatment, only 22 percent of U.S. employers cover any kind of prescription drugs for weight loss, according to a survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, a nonprofit membership organization that provides information for those working in the employee benefits industry. That could change soon.….Story continues…
By : Brit Morse
Source: Inc
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Critics:
Ozempic, the semaglutide injection used for T2D treatment, has a list price of $936 in the United States and $169 in Japan. Prices were $147 in Canada, $144 in Switzerland, $103 in Germany and Netherlands, $96 in Sweden, $93 in the United Kingdom, and $87 in Australia. France had the lowest price at $83.” (21 August 2023; figures refer to a one-month supply).
In the US, Wegovy has a list price of $1,349.02 per month as of 2022 suggesting that because of the high costs many people “who could most benefit from weight loss may be unable to afford such expensive drugs”. High costs of Ozempic prompted some insurance companies to investigate and refuse to cover patients with what the companies considered was insufficient evidence to support a diabetes diagnosis, alleging off-label prescribing for weight loss.
In the UK, semaglutide is available on NHS prescription for diabetes at nominal or no cost to patients. It is also available for obesity, limited to treatment for two years. High demand caused worldwide supply shortages of semaglutide in 2023; new UK prescriptions were not issued during the shortage. By 2023, Novo Nordisk had become the most valuable corporation in the European Union, worth more than US$500 billion, and accounted for almost all recent economic growth in Denmark.
Profits from Novo Nordisk generate returns for the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which holds the controlling stake in Novo Nordisk. The profits results in increased Danish tax revenues and employment. Novo Nordisk added 3,500 jobs in Denmark in 2022, bringing the total in the country to 21,000 employees, out of 59,000 worldwide.
In October 2023, there were reports of counterfeit Ozempic pens being sold in Europe. The pens possibly contained insulin, and led to several people being hospitalised with hypoglycemia and seizures. In December 2023, the FDA issued a warning about counterfeit Ozempic in the United States.
Some compounded versions have been found to contain salts of semaglutide including the sodium and the acetate in an attempt to avoid the patent of the base semaglutide product. These are not evaluated for safety and effectiveness by and thus are considered not shown to be safe or effective by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A 2014 meta-analysis found that semaglutide may be effective in lowering liver enzymes (transaminitis) and improving certain radiologically observed features of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease. French national health care insurance system database had previously suggested 1–3 years use of glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists like exenatide, liraglutide and dulaglutide may be linked with increased occurrence of thyroid cancer. Semaglutide belongs to the same family of medicine.
A meta-analysis involving data from 37 randomized controlled trials and 19 real world studies (46,719 patients) showed that semaglutide use over 18 months was not associated with increased risks of any cancer, supported by a high grade of evidence. In July 2023, the Icelandic Medicines Agency reported two cases of suicidal thoughts and one case of self-injury of users of the injection, prompting a safety assessment of Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and similar drugs.
In January 2024, a preliminary review conducted by the FDA confirmed no evidence had been found to suggest that the medicine causes suicidal thoughts or actions. Semaglutide has shown potential to reduce interest in alcohol consumption among users. Scientists speculate that semaglutide may influence brain regions involved in addiction and appetite regulation, although the exact mechanisms remain under study.
Animal research has indicated that drugs similar to semaglutide can reduce alcohol intake. Semaglutide and similar drugs, such as dulaglutide and liraglutide, have been used to treat binge eating disorder (BED), as they can successfully minimize obsessive thoughts about food and binging urges.
Some users of these drugs have reported significant reduction in what is colloquially known as “food noise” (constant, unstoppable thoughts about eating despite not being physically hungry), which can be a factor of BED.
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