Sufferers may wean themselves off blockbuster weight problems medicine comparable to Ozempic or Wegovy with out piling the kilos again on, in line with a scientific examine.
Information offered on the European Congress on Weight problems in Venice, Italy on Sunday gives among the first proof that it could possibly be doable to cease taking Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic or Wegovy and never regain any weight that has been misplaced — so long as a wholesome life-style is maintained.
When medicine like Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound have been first launched, they have been pitched as long-term medicines, with analysis indicating that sufferers regain massive quantities of the burden they’ve misplaced once they cease taking the medicine.
The Danish examine of sufferers utilizing semaglutide, which is the energetic ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, alongside a weight administration program run via the Embla app, means that tapering the drug — as an alternative of a tough cease — may probably forestall weight regain.
Nevertheless, simply 353 sufferers have been within the pattern of sufferers who stopped semaglutide, which is a small examine dimension. These sufferers had reached their goal weight and decreased their semaglutide dose over 9 weeks. Sufferers continued to drop extra pounds as they tapered, shedding a median of two.1% over the 9 weeks.
The examine additionally means that sufferers would possibly be capable to keep their weight for a number of months after stopping. The researchers had knowledge for 85 sufferers at 26 weeks after stopping semaglutide, and located that they maintained a secure weight.
“The mixture of assist in making life-style adjustments and tapering appears to permit sufferers to keep away from regaining weight after coming off semaglutide,” mentioned Henrik Gudbergsen, lead researcher and Embla’s chief medical officer, in a press release.
$100 billion market
Weight problems medicine have led to a surge in funding and a race to seize a market that analysts at Goldman Sachs forecast may hit $100 billion by 2030.
The examine additionally checked out altering how semaglutide doses are ramped up when sufferers start taking the drug. The two,246 sufferers within the wider examine began on semaglutide alongside recommendation from a nutritionist. Additionally they had entry to medical doctors, nurses and psychologists via Embla.
The sufferers’ doses have been intently monitored and elevated extra slowly than normal remedy. The common weight reduction was 14.8% at 64 weeks, comparable ranges to different research of semaglutide.
