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Weight loss drugs are making waves across the globe and are also making an entry in the Indian market, but at what cost? Some of the popular weight loss or diabetes drugs people often use include Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy. The United States FDA-approved medications for weight loss and diabetes remain a life-changing therapy in many countries, and for some individuals, it is an affordable luxury. Let's delve deep into how prices vary in one of these big markets for weight loss drugs.
Ozempic is a drug with an active ingredient, semaglutide, which is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used primarily for treating type 2 diabetes. However, it is widely used off-label for weight loss because the drug has the ability to reduce appetite. The European Society of Medicine Society (ESMED) added, "According to the results of several clinical trials, semaglutide showed an ability to provoke significant weight loss, improve glycemic control, cardiometabolic and cardiovascular parameters." It is a once-a-week injectable drug that may cost up to $1000 in the United States and 149 to 180 in the United Kingdom and 12,000 in India, depending on the supplier.
Mounjaro is also a once weekly injectable drug developed by Eli Lily and Company. This drug is similar to Ozempic, but it acts on both GIP and GLP-1 hormone receptors. People who consume Mounjaro experience reduced appetite, improved insulin sensitivity, and slowed digestion, which keeps them full throughout the day, resulting in weight loss. The National Institute of Health (NIH) states, "The drug leads to significantly improved glycemic control and weight reduction in patients with T2DM, maximising benefits similar to GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide." The weekly injectable in India starts from 3,500 for a 2.5 MG dose, whereas in the United States it is estimated to $1,000. And in the United Kingdom, the price range is currently between 92 to 122 per month.
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Wegovy is another FDA-approved weight loss medication with an active ingredient, semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The drug is similar to Ozempic, but Wegovy is approved specifically for adults with obesity, whereas the later one was designed for treating type 2 diabetes. John Sharretts, M.D., director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, once stated, "Wegovy is now the first weight loss medication to also be approved to help prevent life-threatening cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight." The weekly injectable drug is about 17,000 per month, whereas in the United States, Wegovy is reportedly $499 per month. In the United States, the same drug ranges from 99- 229 per month.
The best way to decide which weight loss drug is suitable for you depends on your health condition. And the right person to help you narrow down to one option is your physician. Hence, talk to your doctor.