Semaglutide is sold under the brand names Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy—all manufactured and sold by Novo Nordisk. Ozempic injection and Rybelsus tablets are FDA approved as a supplement to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).1 Meanwhile, the 2.4 mg Wegovy injection is indicated for weight loss for individuals with overweight or obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 27 kg/m2 and at least 1 weight-related complication, or a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2.2 While Wegovy can benefit patients with T2D through weight management, it is not meant to directly treat T2D in the same way as Ozempic and Rybelsus.
Despite the different indications, people have been using Ozempic and Rybelsus for weight loss, which has contributed to decreased access for patients with T2D who need it to manage their condition.3 An analysis of electronic health records shared with CNN by Epic Records estimates that around 1.7% of all Americans have been prescribed a semaglutide medication in 2023 alone, reflecting a nearly 40-times increase over the past 5 years.3 Additionally, the increased popularity of Wegovy is making it harder for patients with overweight or obesity who have been using it for weight loss to access the treatment that has been working for them.
According to data collected between 2017 and 2020, 41.9% of US adults have obesity, and nearly 20% of American children and adolescents have obesity.4 Zoomed out, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than a billion people have obesity worldwide, including 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children.5
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