'Wonder drugs' defy ageing.but can they save the NHS?

Ozempic and Wegovy offer benefits beyond weight loss

- REBECCA THOMAS

It has been eight years since weight-loss drug Ozempic hit the market, while Wegovy surfaced in 2021. Since then many reports have been written about the wider health benefits of the so-called wonder drugs.

Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain a medication called semaglutide, are manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Both drugs can be used by those with type 2 diabetes to help aid weight loss and manage blood sugar levels. However, Wegovy has since been approved in the UK to aid weight loss in those without diabetes. Since their launch, the pharma giant has seen a boom in profits, and it isn’t surprising to see why.

Research published this week claimed the drug could slow down ageing and has “far-reaching benefits” beyond what was originally imagined. The studies found those who took the drug died at a lower rate from all causes including cardiovascular diseases and Covid-19. The study covered 17,604 people who were overweight or obese and had an established cardiovascular disease.

Participants were given semaglutide or a placebo and were tracked for more than three years. Throughout the trial, a total of 833 participants died with 58 per cent of the deaths related to cardiovascular causes and 42 per cent to others.