Prescriptions for Ozempic, Wegovy and other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are booming among patients seeking to shed pounds.
Here are the indications, weight loss results, side effects and list prices of nine GLP-1s:
Ozempic
Indication: Type 2 diabetes
Weight loss results: Patients who take Ozempic lose, on average, between 9.3 and 14.1 pounds after 40 weeks.
Side effects: More than 5% of patients report nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. Ozempic's warning label also lists pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, macrovascular outcomes and hypersensitivity reactions.
Cost: $937
Wegovy
Indication: Chronic weight management
Weight loss results: After 68 weeks, study participants shed about 35 pounds, or 15% of their body weight.
Side effects: The most common adverse reactions are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distension, eructation, hypoglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and nasopharyngitis. Its warning label also includes acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, hypersensitivity reactions, diabetic retinopathy complications, heart rate increase, and suicidal behavior and ideation.
Cost: $1,302
Trulicity
Indication: Type 2 diabetes
Weight loss results: In trials lasting between 26 and 52 weeks, patients lost, on average, 6.6 pounds with the 1.5 milligram solution, 8.4 pounds with 3 milligrams and 10.1 pounds with 4.5 milligrams.
Side effects: Common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and decreased appetite. The drug's label also warns patients about pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury and severe gastrointestinal disease.
Cost: $946
Rybelsus
Indications: Type 2 diabetes
Weight loss results: After 68 weeks, patients shed about 17% of their body weight in one trial.
Side effects: The most common side effects are nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting and constipation. The FDA's label also warns about pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy complications, hypoglycemia and acute kidney injury.
Cost: $937
Victoza
Indications: Type 2 diabetes
Weight loss results: When added to metformin, adults lost up to 6.2 pounds, on average, in trials ranging between 26 and 52 weeks.
Side effects: In clinical trials, the most common reported side effects were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, constipation, and immunogenicity-related events, such as urticaria. The warning label also lists pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury and acute gallbladder disease.
Cost: $529
Saxenda
Indications: Chronic weight management
Weight loss results: In a 56-week trial of more than 3,000 adults, 3 in 5 people lost at least 5% of their body weight, 1 in 3 lost 10% and about 6% of study participants shed at least 20%.
Side effects: Popular adverse reactions include nausea, hypoglycemia, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, headache, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain and increased lipase. The FDA also warns patients about potential risks for thyroid T-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, serious hypoglycemia, renal impairment, and suicidal behavior and ideation.
Cost: $1,302
Mounjaro
Indication: Type 2 diabetes
Weight loss results: Compared to Ozempic, people who took Mounjaro "were significantly more likely to achieve 5%, 10% and 15% weight loss and experience larger reductions in weight at 3, 6, and 12 months," according to a recent study.
Side effects: Mounjaro's most common adverse reactions include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, dyspepsia and abdominal pain. Its label also lists possible risks for pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, hypersensitivity reactions, acute kidney injury, severe gastrointestinal disease and acute gallbladder disease.
Cost: $1,069
Zepbound
Indications: Chronic weight management
Weight loss results: In a trial not including adults with diabetes, study participants who received Zepbound lost, on average, 18% of their body weight compared to those who took a placebo after 72 weeks.
Side effects: More than 5% of patients experience nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, injection site reactions, fatigue, hypersensitivity reactions, eructation, hair loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The drug's warning label also lists severe gastrointestinal disease, acute kidney injury, acute gallbladder disease, acute pancreatitis, and suicidal behavior and ideation.
Cost: $1,059
Viking Therapeutics' experimental drug, VK2735
Indications: The therapy is not approved.
Weight loss results: After 13 weeks, patients in a phase 2 trial lost 13.1% more weight than a placebo group and maintained the weight loss after they stopped taking the pill. On average, patients who took the drug lost 14.7% of their body weight.
Side effects: More than 9 in 10 people reported side effects were gastrointestinal in nature, with most being mild or moderate. Other adverse events were nausea (43% of VK2735 users) and vomiting (18%).
Cost: N/A