Semaglutide an effective alternative drug option to treat obesity

Obesity is a seriously neglected disease that is factually a multifactorial chronic disease affecting 650 million adults globally. It is associated with a number of physical and mental health complications including risk factors for cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation.

Weight losses of 5% or more of initial weight help to minimize these complications, with larger losses producing greater health benefits. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for chronic weight management.

Anti-obesity medications (AOM) help facilitate weight management when used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity by individuals with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m 2 or ≥27 kg/m 2 with an obesity-related co- morbidity such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. Patients who are unable to achieve weight loss goals with a comprehensive weight loss (e.g., 5% of initial weight loss in 3-6 months) may pursue adjunct treatment with AOM

Weight-loss and cardiometabolic efficacy, and safety of semaglutide was evaluated and 2.4 mg/week for obesity showed greater results. Once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 1.0 mg was approved by the US FD FDA in 2017 and the E EMA in 2018 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A once-daily oral version of the medication, at a maximum dose of 14 mg, was approved for treating type 2 diabetes in the US in 2019 and in Europe in 2020. The initial dose is 0.25 mg, administered by subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm once weekly for 4 weeks. The dose is increased in 4-week intervals (over a total of 16 weeks) until a dose of 2.4 mg per week is reached.

Semaglutide demonstrated the largest weight loss of any obesity medication to date with reductions of approximately 15% of initial weight at 68 weeks, accompanied by improvements in cardiovascular risks factors and physical functioning. The approval of this medication provides patients with greater options for weight management.

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcm.2021.12.008