A drug used to treat people with type 2 diabetes is also effective in helping obese people lose weight, a remarkable study found.
The semagglutted drug, sold under the trade names of Ozempic and Rybelsus, was administered to adults with an average BMI of 38.
The 2.4 mg dose was administered by the participants themselves once a week through a subcutaneous injection, similar to an insulin injection.
More than a third (35 percent) of people who took the drug lost more than a fifth of their total body weight.
Three-quarters (75 percent) of people who received semaglutide lost more than 10 percent of their body weight.
The researchers say the findings are game-changing because weight loss can be achieved in people who would otherwise need surgery.
Of those who took semagglutide, the average weight loss was 15.3 kg, with a decrease in BMI of less than 5.54.
The placebo group observed an average weight loss of 2.6 kg (0.4 stone) with a reduction in BMI of less than 0.92, more than five times less than those who used the drug.
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The semagglutted drug, sold under the trade names of Ozempic and Rybelsus, was administered to adults with an average BMI of 38. More than a third (35 percent) of people who took the drug lost more than a fifth of their total body weight.
The findings are being hailed for their potential to improve the health of people with obesity.
They could play an important role in helping the UK to reduce the impact of diseases, such as Covid-19, experts suggest.
Semagglutide has already been approved for use in humans, but is usually prescribed for diabetics at a dose of 1 mg.
The most recent study of semaglutide is currently in phase three tests with an increased dose of 2.4 mg.
With the evidence from that study, semaglutide was subjected to regulatory approval as a treatment for obesity by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The drug works by hijacking the body’s appetite regulation system in the brain, leading to reduced hunger and calorie intake.
Almost 2,000 people were recruited for the study in 16 countries, which lasted more than a year and started in the fall of 2018.
Rachel Batterham, professor of obesity, diabetes and endocrinology at UCL, who led the research, said: ‘The findings of this study represent a major step forward in improving the health of people with obesity.
“Three quarters (75 percent) of people who received 2.4 mg of semagglutide lost more than 10 percent of their body weight and more than a third lost more than 20 percent.
“No other drug has come close to producing that level of weight loss – it really is a game changer.
“For the first time, people can achieve with drugs what was only possible through weight loss surgery.”
Professor Batterham added that the drug could have important implications for UK health policy in the coming years.
The average study participant lost 15.3 kg (almost three stones), according to the study published in the New England Journal for Medicine.
This was accompanied by reductions in waist circumference, blood fats, blood sugar and blood pressure, which increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The lead investigator for the study in the UK, Professor John Wilding of the University of Liverpool, said: ‘This is a significant breakthrough in the treatment of obesity.
“Semagglutide has already been approved and used clinically at a lower dose for the treatment of diabetes, so as doctors we are already familiar with its use.”
Of those who took semagglutide, the average weight loss was 15.3 kg, with a reduction in BMI of less than 5.54. The placebo group observed an average weight loss of 2.6 kg (0.4 stone) with a reduction in BMI of less than 0.92, more than five times less than those who used the drug
People who participated in the study received the drug or a placebo and also had access to individual counseling sessions face to face or by telephone from registered nutritionists every four weeks, in addition to receiving guidance to help with behavioral strategies and motivation.
In addition, participants were given incentives, such as kettle bells or food scales to mark progress and milestones.
Some participants reported side effects of the drug, including mild to moderate nausea and diarrhea, which were transient and usually resolved without permanent study interruption.
Dr. Baptiste Leurent, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was not involved in the study, said that careful monitoring will be necessary.
“We also need to better understand what is happening after treatment is stopped and whether it can be done for a shorter period,” he adds.
Dr. Amelia Hollywood, a health psychologist at the University of Reading, adds: ‘It is promising to hear that there is another potential weight-loss drug that can be offered to patients, as currently the only one that has proven to be safe and effective is orlistat.
‘This will be good news for doctors and patients. However, it is important to note that individuals did not just inject this medicine and lose weight, they also had to change their behavior. ‘