Industry Insights Healthcare: 07/08/24
In this week’s insight, we will briefly summarise three of the latest developments in the healthcare industry.
Wegovy® (semaglutide), the new weight-loss drug, becomes available in Australia
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy®, a new semaglutide brand for weight loss, will be available in Australia from August 2024. Wegovy® is approved for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents with obesity or excess weight as a supportive treatment to diet and exercise.
Wegovy® shares the same active ingredient (semaglutide) with Ozempic® – a drug manufactured by Novo Nordisk and approved to treat type 2 diabetes; however, they have different indications and dosages.
The Ozempic Medicine Shortage Action Group advises against initiating new patients on Ozempic unless necessary and suggests considering Wegovy® for patients using Ozempic® off-label. Currently, Wegovy® is available only with a physician’s prescription.
Tirzepatide, a drug approved for weight management, is associated with a significant reduction of heart failure risk, new study shows
Eli Lilly recently announced positive results from its SUMMIT phase 3 trial, which evaluated the effects of tirzepatide in adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity. The trial showed a 38% reduction in heart failure risk, a significant improvement in heart failure symptoms and physical limitations and a 15.7% weight loss in participants. Tirzepatide met all primary and key secondary endpoints, including improved exercise capacity and reduced inflammation. The safety profile was consistent with previous studies.
HFpEF affects nearly half of all heart failure cases, with limited treatment options available. This study is the first to show both symptom improvement and reduced heart failure outcomes in this population.
Tirzepatide is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Mounjaro® for adults with type 2 diabetes and as Zepbound® for adults with obesity or those who are overweight.
The FDA approves the first amyloid plaque-targeting therapy for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Eli Lilly’s Kisunla® (donanemab-azbt) for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. This drug is the first and only amyloid plaque-targeting therapy approved for Alzheimer’s. It allows for the cessation of treatment after plaque removal.
Approval was based on the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 study, which showed that donanemab reduced clinical decline by 35% in less advanced patients and 22% overall compared to placebo. Patients had up to a 39% lower risk of disease progression. Amyloid plaque reduction was significant: 61% at 6 months, 80% at 12 months, and 84% at 18 months.
This approval offers new hope for early-stage Alzheimer’s treatment, potentially slowing disease progression and maintaining patient independence.
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