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Living with diabetes can be managed by proper medication. However, you may have questions regarding the medications available to you. Here, we will take a closer look at two medications, Ozempic and Saxenda, so that you can see how these medications can impact your health. A CLOSER LOOK AT DIABETES Diabetes can be divided into two categories, type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and is commonly diagnosed in children. Individuals with T1D require lifelong insulin treatment to manage their diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed later in life due to genetics, lifestyle, and other risk factors. Unlike T1D, there are numerous treatment options other than insulin therapy to manage type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS A common drug class used to treat type 2 diabetes is glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 receptor agonists work by lowering blood glucose and slowing gastric emptying. Benefits of using a GLP-1 receptor agonist include: weight loss, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) benefits, lowering A1C values, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) benefits with little risk of hypoglycemia. Common GLP-1 receptor agonist side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and injection site reactions. GLP-1 receptor agonists should not be used in patients with a personal or a family history of medullary thyroid cancer.

It has been reported that several Austrians have been taken to the hospital after injecting fake Ozempic, as confirmed by health regulator. Austria's Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) confirmed that the patients have suffered hypoglycaemia and seizures. It is believed that the injections contained insulin instead of the weight loss drug, semaglutide. The health regulator has urged doctors and patients to verify their medication stocks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning on Thursday regarding falsified semaglutide medications used for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity in select countries. This WHO Medical Product Alert addresses three falsified batches of the specific brand Ozempic that were detected in Brazil (October 2023), the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (October 2023), and the United States (December 2023). These falsified semaglutide products were distributed through the regulated supply chain. Novo Nordisk, the genuine manufacturer of Ozempic, confirmed that the three products mentioned in the alert are falsified and were not produced by the company. Healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities and the public are advised to remain vigilant regarding these falsified batches of medicines. Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, urged stakeholders to stop any usage of suspicious medicines and report them to relevant authorities.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned the public to avoid buying pre-filled weight loss pens without a prescription. The warning came after 369 fake Ozempic injections have been seized since January 2023. However, Saxenda pens were obtained by members of the public in the UK through "non-legitimate routes". The health regulator has urged the public to buy the pens after consulting a healthcare professional and with a prescription. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer shared her opinion on the matter, she said: "Buying products such as Ozempic or Saxenda without a prescription, from illegally trading suppliers, significantly increases the risk of receiving something which is either fake or not licensed for use in the UK.

Danish drug developer Novo Nordisk on Wednesday (February 1) warned of supply constraints on its best-selling drug. The company, which develops diabetes and obesity drugs, said it expected "periodic supply constraints" this year, partly driven by higher than expected demand for its blockbuster diabetes drug, Ozempic, and manufacturing constraints. "Supply of Ozempic cannot keep up with demand in some markets," Novo's Chief Financial Officer Karsten Munk Knudsen told journalists on Wednesday, but said Ozempic was available in the United States, the firm's biggest single market. Shortages of human growth hormone would also cause sales in its rare disease franchise to drop by a "mid-single digit" percentage in 2023, as its Norditropin drug would be out of stock in certain markets, Knudsen said.

Medical professionals often prescribe semaglutide to patients who have type 2 diabetes. Along with a balanced diet and regular exercise, it has also shown to be an incredibly efficient weight loss aid for patients. As the active ingredient in well-known brand-name drugs such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus, semaglutide is currently on everybody's lips. But what exactly is semaglutide? Does it really work for weight loss? We'll find an answer for you in this article, and explain the main benefits of using semaglutide for weight loss. What Is Semaglutide? A number of diabetic and weight loss medications, including Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus, have semaglutide as their active ingredient. This substance is a synthetic form of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), that occurs naturally. Developed by the company Novo Nordisk, semaglutide was first approved by the FDA in 2017 as an injection for the treatment of adult type 2 diabetes (as part of the approval procedure for Ozempic). In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved a novel semaglutide form known as Rybelsus. Rybelsus was the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in the United States.

Diabetes drugs that also promote weight loss such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, becoming a darling of celebrities and investors, are being studied to tackle some of the most difficult-to-treat brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Diabetes regimens, from Ozempic to old mainstays like insulin and metformin, appear to address several different aspects of the metabolic system implicated in Alzheimer's disease, including a protein called amyloid and inflammation, researchers say. The hope is that improving glucose utilisation and tamping down inflammation in the entire body - including the brain - could slow progression of debilitating diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Several scientists interviewed by Reuters news agency pointed to mounting research supporting testing diabetes drugs against neurodegenerative diseases. Results are years away and success uncertain. But interest has been buoyed by recent positive data on Alzheimer's drugs developed by Eisai with partner Biogen and by Eli Lilly demonstrating that removing sticky amyloid plaques accumulated in the brain can slow cognition decline caused by the fatal mind-wasting disease. Those successes followed decades of futility that had left many questioning the validity of the amyloid theory behind most experimental Alzheimer's drugs.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that Ozempic has been found at two UK wholesalers on 18 October. The pre-filled falsely labelled pens have been purchased from legitimate suppliers in Austria and Germany. However, there has been no evidence that fake Ozempic has been supplied to UK patients. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer spoke about closely with regulatory partners to ensure patients' safety. He said: "Buying semaglutide from illegally trading online suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK. "Products purchased in this way will not meet our strict quality and safety standards, and taking such medicines may put your health at risk," he added.

Amid the rapid rise in semaglutide usage, a study has suggested a potential risk of a rare eye condition associated with the weight loss drug. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is available under the brand name Ozempic (by Novo Nordisk) in a lower-dose form for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and as Wegovy (also by Novo Nordisk) in a higher-dose form for weight management in patients with high body mass indexes. Anecdotal evidence has indicated that semaglutide might be linked to nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). To investigate this potential connection, researchers in the United States analysed data over a six-year period from nearly 17,000 neuro-ophthalmology patients at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, all of whom had no prior history of NAION.

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) has initiated a review of semaglutide-containing medicines after concerns were raised regarding a potential increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare eye condition. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity, with medicines like Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy containing the active substance. A report from the PRAC highlighted two recent observational studies that suggest patients treated with semaglutide may face a higher risk of developing NAION. This condition, caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve, can result in vision loss in the affected eye. However, two other recent observational studies did not show an increased risk, according to the report.

Following a comprehensive review, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has concluded that current evidence does not support a causal link between Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and suicidal behaviour, suicidal ideation, self-injury, or depression. GLP-1 receptor agonists , which contain active ingredients such as exenatide, lixisenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and semaglutide, are commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. In July 2023, concerns were raised about the safety of these receptor agonists after post-marketing reports suggested a potential risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm associated with these medications. As a result, safety reviews were initiated by the Market Authorisation Holders (MAHs), evaluating the UK post-marketing data to assess the potential risks of these drugs. These reviews also examined the risk of depression in the interest of patient safety following reports of these side effects.