GLP-1 medicine, or GLP-1 receptor agonists, had been initially solely supposed for use as diabetes medication. Nonetheless, they’re now getting used for various capabilities, along with serving to of us with weight discount.
The medicine mimic the movement of the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), can improve satiety and cut back urge for meals.
They’re, in response to Faris Zuraikat, assistant professor at Colombia School, far stronger than the GLP-1 hormone produced endogenously (by the physique), and thus have loads bigger functionality to impress satiety.
There are a variety of such medicine within the market, beneath varied utterly completely different mannequin names. Numerous them have solely been accredited in the marketplace in the last few years.
Semaglutide
Most likely probably the most broadly acknowledged of GLP-1 medicine, semaglutide is obtainable beneath well-known mannequin names comparable to Ozempic and Wegovy.
In step with the charity Diabetes UK, it helps the physique produce further insulin when needed, slows down meals digestion, and reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
There are a variety of semaglutide medication accessible within the market, along with:
Ozempic
What does it do? Novo Nordisk-produced Ozempic, perhaps the easiest acknowledged of GLP-1 medicine, is a medication for the remedy of kind 2 diabetes.
How is it taken? It is injected at a charge of as quickly as each week.
The place is it accessible? Ozempic is a prescription-only drug accessible in a ramification of territories along with the UK, Canada, the EU, Australia, Japan, China and the US. It is typically prescription-only.
Wegovy
What does it do? In distinction to Ozempic, which is primarily aimed towards these with kind 2 diabetes, Wegovy is prescribed to of us to assist with weight discount.
How is it taken? Like with Ozempic, Wegovy is an injection which is taken as quickly as each week.
The place is it accessible? It is accessible in a wide range of territories along with the EU, the UK, the US, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, China, the UAE, Japan, Brazil, Australia and Canada.
Rybelsus
What does it do? As a mannequin of semaglutide, Rybelsus, similar to Ozempic and Wegovy, will enhance the manufacturing of hormones produced by the stomach everytime you eat. It is aimed towards these with kind 2 diabetes.
How is it taken? In distinction to Ozempic and Wegovy, Rybelsus is taken inside the kind of a capsule, as quickly as a day. Diabetes UK recommends taking it with an empty stomach, sooner than your first meal or snack of the day.
The place is it accessible? Rybelsus is for the time being accessible in a ramification of territories along with the US, the EU, the UK, Switzerland and Japan.
Liraglutide
Liraglutide is one different weight-loss drug which, like semaglutide, is obtainable in quite a lot of producers.
Victoza
What does it do? Victoza is a drugs primarily used to take care of kind 2 diabetes, by rising the amount of insulin launched.
How is it taken? Victoza is an injection that you just take as quickly as a day.
The place is it accessible? Victoza is obtainable in a ramification of territories along with the EU, the US, and China. In step with Diabetes UK, it is for the time being out of stock inside the UK, with shortages anticipated to be resolved this month.
Saxenda
What does it do? Like Wegovy, Saxenda is supposed primarily as a weight-loss drug, pretty than Victoza, which is aimed towards these with kind 2 diabetes.
How is it taken? Saxenda is an injection and must be taken as quickly as a day.
The place is it accessible? The drug is obtainable in a lot of markets world broad, along with the EU and US. Nonetheless, the World Properly being Organisation (WHO), after considering doing so, has not added Saxenda to its vital medicines itemizing.
Exenatide
Exenatide, like semaglutide, will enhance the amount of GLP-1 hormones produced by the physique. These improve the manufacturing of insulin, along with lowering the amount of glucose the physique produces and slowing down digestion.
Exenatide is obtainable beneath the mannequin title Bydureon. Former exenatide mannequin Byetta has, in response to Diabetes UK, been discontinued.
Bydureon
What does it do? Enhance the manufacturing of GLP-1 hormones.
How is it taken? Bydureon is taken by the use of a once-weekly injection.
The place is it accessible? Bydureon is obtainable in a wide range of territories, along with the US and the EU.
Lixisenatide
Very like completely different GLP-1 receptor agonists, lixisenatide binds to and prompts the GLP-1 receptor, rising insulin secretion, supressing glucagon secretion, and slowing down meals digestion.
Lyxumia
What does it do? Lyxumia is the mannequin title for lixisenatide, and is used to take care of kind 2 diabetes.
How is it taken? It is taken as a once-daily injection.
The place is it accessible? It is accessible inside the EU, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and India.
Inside the US, it was provided beneath the mannequin title Aldyxin, nevertheless this was discontinued in 2023. Lyxumia has moreover been discontinued in England and Scotland.
Dulaglutide
Dulaglutide, like completely different GLP-1 receptors, helps the physique secrete insulin and slows meals digestion.
Trulicity
What does it do? The drug is very prescribed as a remedy for kind 2 diabetes, not only for adults nevertheless for children of ten years and above as properly.
How is it taken? It is taken as quickly as each week by injection.
The place is it accessible? It is accessible in a ramification of markets along with the EU, the UK, the US, New Zealand and Australia.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide slows digestion, reduces glucagon secretion and can enhance insulin sensitivity and secretion.
Mounjaro
What does it do? Mounjaro, a mannequin title for tirzepatide, prompts every GLP-1 and Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) receptors.
Crucially, Mounjaro treats every weight discount and type 2 diabetes, pretty than being aimed towards treating one or the other identical to the persevering with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
How is it taken? It is taken as quickly as each week by injection.
The place is it accessible? It is accessible in a ramification of markets along with the EU, the UK, the US, and China.
Eli Lilly, the company that produces Mounjaro, moreover makes Zepbound, a weight loss-friendly mannequin of tirzepatide, nevertheless this is not however accessible inside the EU.
Tackling GLP-1 shortages
Whereas the supply of these medicine is rising, with a lot of them being accredited for the market all through the ultimate decade, extreme demand has meant rising shortages. Inside the EU, Ozempic, Saxenda, Trulicity and Victoza significantly have suffered from the shortages. The shortages are worsened by people who shouldn’t have weight issues using these medicine for ‘magnificence’ weight discount, the European Remedy Firm suggests. This even extends to felony train, with an elevated menace of falsified merchandise coming into the market.