Anti-obesity agents

British public divided on whether NHS should offer weight-loss jabs, survey results show

The findings of the Ipsos 'Public attitudes toward weight-loss injections' poll show that 37% of British adults surveyed support weight-loss injections being offered on the NHS, while 32% said they were opposed.…

Medicines regulator receives 46 reports of hospitalisations linked to weight-loss drugs

As of 16 August 2024, the MHRA had received 5,073 reports of common gastrointestinal reactions related to GLP-1 RA use, of which 46 reported hospitalisation of the individual.…

MHRA finds no link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and suicidal behaviour

The regulator says it will continue to monitor the risk of severe psychiatric reactions and assess new data as they become available.…

The unregulated semaglutide prescribing circus

Why there should be stronger regulations around the prescribing of semaglutide, speaking from experience as a trainee pharmacist supplying this medicine from a community pharmacy in central London.…

MHRA approves semaglutide to prevent cardiovascular events in overweight and obese adults

The approval is based on data from a trial that demonstrated how semaglutide lowered the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events compared with placebo.…

Semaglutide linked to sight-threatening eye condition, study results suggest

Researchers used data from nearly 17,000 patients to examine whether semaglutide prescriptions were associated with increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, or who were overweight.…

EMA tells countries to prioritise weight loss drugs for patients ‘with greatest need’

A European Medicines Agency steering group has asked member countries to work with marketing authorisation holders to “control and optimise the distribution” of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.…

Bariatric surgery more effective than GLP-1 agonist weight loss drugs, study finds

Weight loss from bariatric surgery was maintained at approximately 25% for up to ten years after surgery, while patients who received GLP-1 receptor agonists regained 50% of the weight lost within one year of stopping treatment.…

Pharmacies to provide ‘dispense and delivery service’ for weight loss management pilots

Community pharmacies will be part of a £40m pilot scheme that will run across several integrated care boards in England.…

MHRA warns of dangers of fake weight loss pens after Yellow Card reports

The medicines regulator said Ozempic and Saxenda pens have been confirmed as being falsified with insulin in five of the reports.…