Why are clinical trials and approvals important?

Clinically speaking, obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, and while a pill won’t make you lose weight, it can certainly be the first boost people need to get closer to their goals. . Once you lose the first stubborn pounds, you must maintain your weight loss by adopting a strict lifestyle, including a calorie-restricted diet and increased exercise. Also, older weight loss drugs did not show commensurate benefits for heart health. And because Wegovy does this statistically, it can be used not just as a cosmetic wonder drug, but as a primary anti-obesity therapy.

I believe that cardiovascular disease, especially those related to obesity, can be the leading cause of death, and that treatments that address this risk will save lives.

So how does semaglutide protect heart health?

In this trial, semaglutide had no effect on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or blood pressure. However, on average, patients lost about 10% of their body weight, which in turn reduced these risks. Further research is needed into the direct correlation between the drug itself and heart health.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It mimics the effects of the incretin hormone GLP-1, which is released from the intestine after meals. This stimulates insulin production, reduces glucagon production, and slows gastric emptying. All of these functions work together to lower blood sugar levels and reduce strain on the cardiovascular system. Additionally, increased satiety reduces hunger and the tendency to overeat, which impacts calories and weight.

By promoting weight loss and weight management, semaglutide controls other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation. Inflammation is known to constrict blood vessels in the heart, causing plaque deposits that can damage and rupture artery walls and form blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

What does that mean to you?

For Indians, it will take some time before injectable semaglutide becomes widely available as several clinical trials are underway. However, we expect it to be available domestically within the next few years. At the moment, these injections are available at pharmacies that sell imported brands at incredibly high prices, or from people brought in by international travelers. We have liraglutide, which has been shown to positively impact cardiac and renal safety outcomes. It has high usage among patients in clinical trials, making it an effective treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes. But even if you are one of the privileged few who have access to the drug, you must still see your doctor and get a prescription. If you don’t medically analyze your own health condition, you can’t jump to therapy just because someone else has a health condition.

Additionally, weight loss with semaglutide lasts as long as you take the drug. Weight loss is a multi-pronged approach that needs to be followed just as rigorously as relying on magic bullets.