Med-Insights. (Beta)
By Johann on April 2025 . read 3 min
Lilly messes with Ozempic - in pill form.
Everybody knows about Ozempic, this year's most popular drug. Basically, you inject a hormone into your body and lose weight. It went viral on social media and made Novo Nordisk the most valuable pharmaceutical company in Europe and the second most valuable globally...
But this week,Eli Lilly (US pharmaceutical company) has just scored a big hit in the weight loss battle: Its experimental pill Orforglipron was just as effective as the well-known drug Ozempic in a study.
Patients lost an average of almost 8% of their body weight within 40 weeks. And the best thing? No prick - just a pill.
As a result, Lilly's share price rose by 16 %, while the share price of competitor Novo Nordisk (manufacturer of Ozempic from Denmark) fell by 7 %. Analysts see this as a real game changer, as Lilly is now ahead in the race for easy-to-take weight loss drugs - a market that is expected to grow to 150 billion dollars.
For the nerds:
Ozempic and Orforglipron act through the hormone GLP-1, which is produced in the gut. GLP-1 signals satiety (“I'm full”) and slows digestion, leading to reduced hunger. These effects contribute to lowering blood sugar levels. Over time, this helps reduce HbA1c, a key marker for long-term blood sugar control in diabetes.
- GLP-1: Tells the body “I'm full” and slows down digestion.
- HbA1c: A long-term value for blood sugar - important in diabetes.
Orforglipron is a so-called small synthetic molecule - an artificially produced substance that is easier and cheaper to produce than injectable drugs made from peptides.
Conclusion: The new weight loss pill could reduce the burden on the healthcare system, especially in the USA, where around 75% (Europe around 50%) are overweight. If approved, it could revolutionize the treatment of obesity and diabetes.
These are the other News of the Week:
- Japan in stem cell research with initial successes in Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and blindness.
Here, scientists are trying to recreate new nerve cells, eyes and even spinal cords from modeled stem cells from skin cells. Almost like science fiction, except it's real. The first patients can already see again 🤯 Nature
- 15% of people exceed the maximum daily dose of painkillers
I also found this article on overconsumption of painkillers worth recommending. Many people are unaware of the side effects associated with OTC painkillers such as paracetamol (e.g. Tylenol) and NSAIDs and the problems they can lead to💀 npr
- Pass the Bananas, Please 🍌
I also found this paper interesting, which linked high blood pressure to pottasium magel. Spoiler it is actually quite significant. And high blood pressure is known to often end in a heart attack. I have also linked the entire paper here Physiology
Thanks for your time and attention! ❤️
Sign up