Weight loss drug Wegovy receives FDA approval

• Wegovy, a weight loss drug in the form of an under-the-skin injection, has received FDA approval.
• It targets parts of the brain that regulates appetite and food intake.
• Still, it is meant to be used in combination with increased physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet.

A weight loss drug for overweight or obese adults has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday. The last approval for such a drug was back in 2014. Wegovy, an under-the-skin injection, is still meant to be used in combination with increased physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet.

“Today’s approval offers adults with obesity or overweight a beneficial new treatment option to incorporate into a weight management program,” read a news release from John Sharretts, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders and Obesity in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Sharretts continued, “FDA remains committed to facilitating the development and approval of additional safe and effective therapies for adults with obesity or overweight.”

The drug went through four 68-week successful trials involving over 2,600 patients.

The STEP 1 trial saw non-diabetic obese participants reduce weight by 15%, compared to the placebo group’s 2.4%. The STEP 2 trial saw diabetic obese participants reduce weight by 6.2% more than the placebo group.

The drug mimics the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone that targets the part of the brain in charge of regulating appetite and food intake.

It should not be taken with other semaglutide-containing products, other GLP-1 receptor agonists, or other weight loss products, whether it be prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal, the FDA warned.

The drug is meant to be taken over 16 to 20 weeks, increasing the dosage to 2.4 mg once weekly to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. 

Some of the most common side effects include fatigue, headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, gas, constipation, gastroenteritis, and hypoglycemia in diabetics.

Accoding to the FDA, nearly 70% of American adults are obese. Obesity has been linked to a higher risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

But this risk can still be reduced by losing 5% to 10% of body weight through exercise and diet.

Source: FOX News