Weekly injections of Ozempic made by Danish company Novo Nordisk are used for type II diabetes. The active ingredient includes semaglutide, which is not available yet as a generic. The medicine is sold under the brand name Ozempic and Rybelsus as anti-diabetics. Rybelsus is available in India in tablet form. The medicine controls blood sugar, lowers cardiac risks and stroke risks.
At the same time, Ozempic suppresses appetite. It increases the time of food exiting stomach. It induces a feeling of fullness. It mimics GLP-1, a natural hormone in the gut. It increases insulin secretion. It decreases the release of glucagon. This works to control the blood sugar. By mimicking GLP-1, it affects hypothalamus and reduces hunger. It reduces the motility of the food in the stomach. The user experiences feeling of fulness for a longer period.
Ozempic used as a weight-loss preparation. It is called off-label use. FDA approves it for diabetes type 2. Another variant Wegovy is used for obesity. There is increased demand for the molecule in recent years. Elon Musk famously tweeted about his weight loss: Fasting + Ozempic/ Wegovy + No tasty food near me.
Ozempic is not available in India. It has not been approved too. Its oral form Rybelsus is not as effective. In India, the medicines are imported unofficially or are bought in gray market. Some medicines sneak in from neighbouring markets, e.g. Incepta Pharmaceuticals from Bangla Desh supplying Fitara. In India, Sun Pharma is developing its own weight-loss formulation, while Cipla and Dr. Reddy’s are working on generic versions.
Ozempic’s side effects are mild-constipation, diarrhea, nausea, pancreas inflammation, low sugar, gall bladder disease, diabetic retinopathy. If medicine is withdrawn, the blood sugar control is lost and there are weight issues. There is a psychological fall out of drug usage and withdrawal.
Based on clinical data, there are 8 million plus prescriptions for Ozempic in the USA in 2021. Rybelsus sales in India has shot up to reach Rs.364 crore (Pharmatrack). Semaglutide’s market share in anti-obesity market in India is 66 per cent.