Obesity continues to be a major focus for the pharmaceutical industry, as it triggers many serious health problems, from diabetes to cardiovascular disease. Semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic have made significant breakthroughs in recent years.
New Developments in Weight Loss Pills
These “miracle drugs” are rapidly spreading in the US; according to the latest data, one in eight people have used them at least once. However, the fact that these drugs require regular subcutaneous injections is causing many people to be wary of treatment.
In a new step toward overcoming this obstacle, weight loss medications with effects similar to Ozempic may soon be available in pill form. Currently, up to 2.4 milligrams of semaglutide must be injected weekly. Taking the same dose orally is less effective, so the same results cannot be achieved.
To address this issue, researchers have begun testing the pill dose to see if the same effect can be achieved by increasing the pill dose to 25 mg. The initial clinical results released are quite promising.
A 71-week clinical trial was conducted in four different countries with a total of 307 participants. In the study, 205 participants classified as overweight or obese were given semaglutide tablets daily, while 102 received a placebo.
According to the results, the pill group experienced an average weight loss of 13.6%, an 11.4% reduction compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, almost a third of the pill participants lost more than 20% of their total body weight.
The study noted not only weight loss but also significant improvements in metabolic health indicators. Blood sugar, cholesterol, and physical function measurements were significantly better in the pill group.
Side effects, one of the major drawbacks of medications like Ozempic, continued to occur even in pill form. 74% of participants taking semaglutide experienced gastrointestinal discomfort and nausea, compared to 42.2% in the placebo group. While researchers describe these side effects as “generally mild to moderate and transient,” they emphasize that they should be monitored carefully.
Experts warn that weight regain is possible if treatment is discontinued, and the long-term consequences of use are still unknown.
