Popular Drugs for Weight Loss Endorsed by WHO Scientists

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Key Highlights:

WHO scientists have endorsed a new class of medicines, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), for weight loss.
GLP-1 RAs mimic a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, aiding obesity management.
Drugs in this class include semaglutide and tirzepatide, with potential to be “transformative.”

Global Obesity Statistics:

As of 2022, 1 in 8 people globally were obese.
Efforts to combat obesity through diet and exercise have largely failed to address the “obesity pandemic.”

Drug Development and Impact:

GLP-1 RAs were originally approved in 2017 for type 2 diabetes but gained popularity as weight-loss drugs.
The drugs are already used in some countries like India and Brazil, and large-scale trials are underway.
Notable drugs: Wegovy (approved in the US) and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (approved in 2023).

WHO’s Guidelines:

WHO is drafting guidelines on the clinical use of GLP-1 RAs, expected by July 2025.
Focus: clinical indications, application, and cost concerns.

Semaglutide vs tirzepatide:

The FDA has approved Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for chronic weight management in adults.
These drugs can be prescribed to those who are obese (with a body mass index of over 30), or overweight (with a BMI between 27 and 30), and have at least one other health condition related to their weight (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes).
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are polypeptides, small proteins that boost the levels of naturally-occurring hormones in the body, including that of glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1), which control weight through the brain and digestive tract.
Higher GLP-1 levels, released in the gut, spark a reaction by stimulating neurons that alter gut function, leading to a sense of fullness.
This process also taps into a brain mechanism that lights up neural pathways, triggering the sensation of satiety – the feeling of being satisfied and having had enough to eat.
They also help manage glucose levels, making them an effective treatment for diabetes.
Semaglutide only targets GLP-1 receptors. On the other hand, tirzepatide also boosts a second hormone: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
The GIP also regulates weight through receptors in brain and fat cells.

Semaglutide

Semaglutide injection is in a class of medications called incretin mimetics. It works by helping the pancreas to release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy.
Novo Nordisk is the sole patent holder of semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Wegovy and Novo’s diabetes drug Ozempic, which are not yet approved for sale in India
Wegovy, Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound belong to a class of therapies known as GLP-1 receptor agonists originally developed to control blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. But they also slow digestion, helping patients feel full longer.
Indian law allows drugs approved in foreign countries to be imported and sold in the country after obtaining an import license from the drug regulator by the original drug manufacturer’s partner in India.
Novo aims to officially launch Wegovy in India in 2026 after securing regulatory approvals
Certain provisions of the law also allow drugs that have not been formally approved by the Indian drug regulator to be imported for individual use, provided patients make an appeal with valid prescriptions and proof of identity.