Semaglutide (Wegovy) for Weight Loss

Date: July 12, 2021 Issue #:  1628Summary:  The injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide, previously approved by the FDA asOzempic to treat type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, has now been approved in a higher dose asWegovy (Novo Nordisk) for chronic weight management in adults with or without type 2 diabetes who have a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 or a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 and ≥1 weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia). An oral formulation of semaglutide(Rybelsus) has been available since 2019 for treatment of type 2 diabetes, but it is not approved for weight management. Liraglutide(Saxenda), another subcutaneously injected GLP-1 receptor agonist, was approved for chronic weight management in 2015.
Source: The Medical Letter - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Liraglutide Phentermine Qsymia Saxenda semaglutide topiramate type 2 diabetes Wegovy Weight loss Source Type: research