Researchers estimate that 136.8 million adults in the U.S. are eligible for semaglutide, the generic for Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus.

A recent study conducted in Sweden found that GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy may help reduce alcohol consumption and related harms in individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. 

The ever-rising popularity of GLP-1 medications is reshaping the landscape of bariatric surgeries — but experts say patients could be overlooking key factors when choosing between the two weight loss treatments.

Telehealth companies selling low-cost, compounded versions of popular weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are drawing increased interest from employers, Bloomberg reported Oct. 29.

Between 2022 and 2023, prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs soared 132.6% while bariatric surgery rates fell 25.6%, according to a new study from researchers at Boston-based Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. 

Researchers have recently identified more potential uses for Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications, including treating opioid use disorder, alcohol use disorder and Alzheimer's disease. 

Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 medication, Rybelsus, reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 14% compared to a placebo in a phase 3 trial, the drugmaker said Oct. 21. 

Research led by a Northwestern Medicine team found that, despite higher upfront costs, bariatric surgeries offer two more quality years of life compared to GLP-1 therapies.

Hundreds of clinical trials are researching how drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro affect a plethora of conditions, Nature reported Sept. 25. 

As the demand for GLP-1 drugs grows, there are several factors emerging that could result in its price decreasing. 

Wegovy and similar medicines have the potential to significantly reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks in "clinically silent patients," according to research from Dandelion Health. 

For nearly 3,400 patients with obesity, the average weight loss achieved with semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) was more than twice that achieved with liraglutide (Saxenda and Victoza). 

Competition is brewing for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, two of the world's leading pharmaceutical weight loss companies, according to analysts. 

Among 95 patients who are overweight or obese, an experimental daily pill from Novo Nordisk reduced their mean body weight by 13.1%, NBC News reported Sept. 10. 

Patients who took semaglutide, the main ingredient of Wegovy and Ozempic, died less often from COVID-19 compared to those who took a placebo, according to a study published Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 

Employers and employees spent more than $400 billion on obesity care in 2023; Novo Nordisk's CEO said weight loss drug Wegovy can reduce these costs — an inverse of critics' expectations. 

Many cardiac drugs have notoriously low adherence rates, but GLP-1s may be overcoming that problem, according to Northwell Health cardiologist, Jeffrey Wessler, MD. 

There's no shortage of headlines and hypotheticals about the blockbuster drug class of GLP-1s. Stephen Klasko, MD, argues we're asking the wrong questions about GLP-1s. 

Labels for GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic and Mounjaro, might see more approved uses as researchers study the drugs' effects on sleep apnea, dementia and other health issues. Meanwhile, oncologists are looking at a GLP-1 role in cancer care.

As experts forecast GLP-1 medications boosting national economies, the manufacturers of these popular drugs have reported fruitful second quarters.