Wegovy, Ozempic May Someday Be Given as Once-Monthly Injection
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Sept. 9, 2024 -- A slow-release form of semaglutide could allow people who use Wegovy or Ozempic to get shots once a month, instead of the weekly injections they now take, a new study demonstrates.
The new formulation encases semaglutide in a hydrogel that slowly releases the drug as the gel dissolves, researchers said.
“A small dollop of gel, known as a ‘depot,’ of the semaglutide-laden hydrogel is injected under the skin,” said lead researcher Dr. Claire Megret, director of clinical and preclinical development for the French biotech company ADOCIA, which developed the gel.
The hydrogel successfully released a smooth, steady stream of semaglutide to six lab rats, researchers said in a presentation at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes’ annual meeting in Madrid.
“Next we will be testing the hydrogel platform in pigs, whose skin and endocrine systems are most similar to those in humans,” Megret said in a meeting news release. “If that goes well, we will move forward the platform development by expecting clinical trials within the next few years.”
Semaglutide promotes weight loss and helps control diabetes by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which is released in the gut in response to eating.
The drug helps suppress appetite, slows down digestion and prompts the body to produce more insulin in response to elevated blood sugar levels.
Unfortunately, semaglutide now must be given in weekly injections, which is tough on many patients, researchers said.
Studies suggest that only 39% to 67% of type 2 diabetics keep up with their weekly semaglutide injections for a year, researchers said. Only 40% of patients who get the weekly shots for weight loss adhere to the drug regimen after a year.
“Weekly injections can be burdensome for patients,” Megret said. “A single shot a month could make it much easier for people living with diabetes or obesity to stick to their drug regimens, improving quality of life and reducing side effects and diabetes complications.”
The semaglutide-laden hydrogel doesn’t require a special syringe, researchers said. An off-the-shelf needle can place the wad of gel under the skin.
Because these findings were presented at a medical meeting, they should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Sources
- European Association for the Study of Diabetes, news release, Sept. 7, 2024
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2024
Read this next
'10 Americas:' Health Disparities Mean Life Expectancy Varies Across U.S.
FRIDAY, Nov. 22, 2024 -- How long Americans can expect to live varies dramatically -- and the gap continues to widen. A new report says health inequalities have, in essence...
Meds Like Ozempic Are Causing Folks to Waste More Food
FRIDAY, Nov. 22, 2024 -- America's kitchen trash bins are receiving more unwanted food as appetites falter among people taking GLP-1 weight-loss meds, a new study shows. GLP-1s...
Weight-Loss Drug Zepbound May Lower Heart Failure Deaths
THURSDAY, Nov. 21, 2024 -- A drug used to help patients lose weight and manage diabetes may also help those with heart failure, an international clinical trial shows. The test of...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.