The “Wegovy” brand Slimming syringe is available for sale at Achat Pharmacy in Mitte. The “Wegovy” slimming syringe is available in Germany for a year.
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A version of this article first appeared on CNBC’s Healthy Returns Newsletter. This will bring you the latest healthcare news directly to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.
Yet another study is Novo NordiskSemaglutide – the company’s huge hit weight loss drug Wegovy and active ingredients in the diabetes treatment Ozempic.
However, this time, the study highlights the risks of hair loss.
To be clear, the link to semaglutide hair removal is not new. A clinical trial conducted by Novo Nordisk shows that patients who take semaglutide are at a higher risk of hair loss compared to patients who take placebo.
Wegovy and Ozempic are part of a popular class of drugs called GLP-1S, which mimic the hormones in the intestine to suppress appetite and regulate blood glucose levels. These drugs are known for gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting, and some patients have faced an increased scrutiny after reporting that they are experiencing gastric paralysis and suicidal thoughts.
In a statement, Novo Nordisk said it was “confident in the profit risk profile of GLP-1 drugs if it matches the label of the indication and product.”
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia and not yet submitted for peer review shows that semaglutide is associated with hair loss compared to users of older weight loss medications called contrab or bupropion naltrexone.
Researchers looked at data from 16 million patients from 2006 to 2020, identifying 1,926 semaglutide users and 1,348 inconsistent users. Those with a diagnosis of diabetes or who used anti-pregnancy – drugs that lower blood sugar levels were excluded.
Hair removal rates were higher among semaglutide users than contradicted users. Overall, patients who took semaglutide had a 52% higher risk of hair loss than patients who took the reverse.
Researchers also found that women who took semaglutide had more than twice the risk of hair loss compared to women in the inconsistency group. However, one of the authors, Mohit Sodhi, told CNBC that “most of our data was driven by women,” so it is not possible to compare men and women in the study.
Of those taking semaglutide, women had 22 cases of hair loss and men had one case. Future studies with large patient sample sizes are necessary to determine whether there is a difference between men and women, Sodhi noted.
According to Sodhi, the researchers also failed to follow the patient if semaglutide was stopped or inconsistent, so it is unclear whether the risk of hair loss will decrease after removing Novo Nordisk’s drug. He said there is a need for further research in that field.
So why is semaglutide at a high risk of hair loss?
One factor is physiological stress that can be induced by rapid weight loss, which can lead to “disruption in the natural hair cycle.” He said that it may be a more prominent effect of semaglutide, as it is known to lose weight more rapidly than inconsistencies.
The ability of Semaglutide to suppress appetite has also led to patients who can cause malnutrition, including protein, in particular, and Sodhi added. Protein defects have been shown to be related to hair loss, he noted.
Sodhi said patients could also lose nutrients by vomiting with semaglutide. Some health experts have hypothesized that semaglutide could lead to a hormone shift that increases the risk of hair loss in a common form called androgenic alopecia, he added.
The researchers stated that people, especially women, women in particular, may want to “limit as a possible restriction of hair loss” on the drug by considering strict use for weight loss. However, people with diabetes or morbid obesity may pressure risks and benefits differently and may be willing to accept hair loss as a potential risk, the researchers added.
Dr. Mahyar Etminan, one of the research authors, previously consulted about a lawsuit relating to Ozempic.
Feel free to send tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at Annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
Latest in Healthcare Technology: DEXCOM receives warning letters from the FDA and appoints new officers
The Dexcom logo appears on your smartphone screen and background.
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Dexcom Last week, I received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after inspecting the company’s manufacturing facility in San Diego, California and its manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona.
According to the company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, the FDA “observed” the “nonconformance” with Dexcom’s quality control system and manufacturing processes. The agency also said the company’s response to the observation list formally known as Form 483 was insufficient.
“The company takes the issues identified in the warning letter seriously, has already submitted several responses to Form 483 and has prepared written responses to the warning letter,” Dexcom said in the submission.
It was unclear what specific issues the FDA identified at the facility.
Dexcom produces a device called a continuous glucose monitor that helps users track blood sugar levels and manage diabetes. The FDA warning letter does not limit the ability to manufacture or distribute Dexcom products.
The company told CNBC it has “regularly updated” the FDA on improvements since its agents conducted inspections last year. Some of those observations have already been well addressed, and the warning letter details “specific areas for continuous focus,” Dexcom said.
“Dexcom is behind the quality of our products and is committed to solving unresolved questions from the FDA as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement.
Dexcom also appointed René Galá, chief operating officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, to its board of directors last week. Gala has been working in his current role since 2023, previously serving as Jazz Chief Financial Officer.
She also has a leadership role at Grail and Theravance Biopharma, where she spent several years at drug giant Eli Lilly.
“Trading Rene’s extensive experience, leading global finance and global operations, including commerce and R&D, driving growth and creating shareholder value, provides excellent fit at this key point in Dexcom’s journey.”
As of Tuesday morning intraday trading, Dexcom shares were down about 9% per year.
Read the full release here.
Feel free to send tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley at ashley.capoot@nbcuni.com.
