Earlier this year, my colleague, Yasmin Tayag, predicted that the diabetes drug, Ozempic, would become old news. And she was right. Recent presentations at the American Diabetes Association meeting in San Diego have revealed a range of new treatments for obesity that are set to replace Ozempic. One such treatment is an oral form of semaglutide, which works just as well as Ozempic or Wegovy. Another pill containing orforglipron has also shown promise. Additionally, drugs like tirzepatide and survodutide may prove to be more effective than semaglutide, while a compound called retatrutide has shown the most promising results, even rivaling the effects of bariatric surgery. The diversity of options for patients is multiplying, with some drugs being cheaper or more convenient, and others potentially having fewer side effects. It is concerning, however, that while the drug Ozempic itself is becoming outdated, the name Ozempic is becoming an all-encompassing term for this class of drugs.
In other words, Ozempic is becoming old news much sooner than anticipated. While the drug will continue to be widely used, a plethora of new medications for obesity are progressing through development, offering a wide array of options for patients. Some drugs may offer cost or convenience advantages, while others may be more potent or have fewer side effects. It becomes worrisome that the name Ozempic is persisting as a generic term for this class of drugs, even as the drugs themselves continue to evolve and differentiate from one another.
The new drugs all share a common mechanism of action, activating the GLP-1 receptor to suppress appetite and stimulate insulin release. While they possess similarities, they also have distinct differences. For instance, semaglutide limits glucagon secretion, while tirzepatide affects glucagon in multiple ways, and retatrutide activates multiple receptors that lead to weight loss. These differences will play a significant role in shaping the future of obesity treatment, and it is crucial for patients and doctors to thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of each drug.
The phenomenon of a brand name becoming synonymous with a product class, like Kleenex for tissues, is known as genericide in the legal world. However, with Ozempic, the term has been stretched to the point of being misleading and confusing. If we were dealing with a different disease, such as cancer, it is unlikely that we would use the brand name as a generic term for similar treatments. This simplification and disregard for the nuances of obesity perpetuate outdated thinking that emphasizes basic solutions like diet and exercise, supplemented with the use of a weight-loss drug.
While simplicity has its merits, in the post-Ozempic era, referring to everything as Ozempic only exacerbates the problem. It oversimplifies obesity and creates confusion about the various treatments available. Patients are left with a bottle of magic pills without clear guidance on which one is the right choice for them.
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