A groundbreaking study of weight loss medicines has revealed links to improvements in heart health and a range of other conditions - accelerating their demand for a market projected to be worth US$77 billion (A$123 billion) by 2030.
The comprehensive 3.5-year observation on human health conducted by Washington University analysed data from almost two million people on weight loss pills - mostly Veterans - showing that not only did it shed weight, but also a 12% reduction in people with Alzheimer's disease.
The results, published in the journal Nature Medicine, also revealed lower cases of chronic kidney disease and liver cancer, and lower reported fevers and bacterial infections.
Not only that, it indicated a drastic reduction in the risk of substance abuse from things like alcohol, marijuana and opioids - as well as showing fewer signs of suicidal thoughts, seizures and schizophrenic tendencies.
Bad with the good
However, adverse side effects were prevalent too. Signs of stomach pain and inflammation, intestinal bulges and haemorrhoids were more common using the more popular weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic.
Data compiled from the comparable metropolis number of humans also pointed out increases in fainting, low blood pressure and symptoms of arthritis in test patients.
Despite these negative effects, Washington University clinical epidemiologist Dr Ziyad al-Aly says the results show the drugs’ potential for a huge range of positive benefits.
It boils down to Wegovy and Ozempic’s active semaglutide ingredient GLP-1, which sticks to receptors throughout the body - including the brain and was originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes.
"It is very clear this class of drugs seem to suppress reward mechanisms [in the brain so it] inhibits that urge to seek out alcohol, to seek out tobacco, to seek out gambling," Dr Aly said.
"When you add more benefit, for the people who really are at risk of these conditions, that's an added plus.”
But for others without weight issues, Aly says, "maybe the risk that they're buying themselves is actually much higher than the benefit".
More data needed
As the weight-loss drug market expands, understanding their comprehensive effects is crucial.
And the requisite for more research is more data. Because veterans used in the test pool were predominantly white men, analysis could not produce evidence of any female-specific side-effects such as improved fertility or “Ozempic babies”.
Clinical trials have so far proven GLP-1 to benefit heart health and nausea as a known side effect, though yet to prove the other symptoms of the study, therefore much more rigorous testing will be required.
Trials to further evaluate its neuroprotective effects for Alzheimer’s have already begun and studies are popping up across the world to take advantage of the exponential growth in demand for weight loss medicines.
A booming market
Accelerated demand for weight loss medicine for the estimated 740 million people worldwide with obesity has been driven by a greater understanding among health professionals of its root causes.
Global finance advisor Morgan Stanley says the record levels of interest are fuelling a new class of appetite-suppressing drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, with blockbuster growth into a US$77 billion market by 2030.
The majority of obesity management drug revenue comes from the U.S., though its market share is expected to decrease steadily to 66% by 2030.
“Social media activity documenting transformative weight loss, together with the establishment of affordable insurance coverage more quickly than anticipated, has helped drive demand for obesity medicines beyond our expectations,” Morgan Stanley European Biopharmaceuticals analyst Mark Purcell says.
“While supply constraints have capped sales growth in the near term, the global obesity market could go from a $2.4 billion category in 2022 to reach $77 billion in 2030, up from our previous estimate for a $54 billion.”
Results from studies such as Washington University showing other positive side effects are “just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new growth opportunities for weight-loss medicines and market expansion,” says Purcell.