Hannah Walton-Hughes
A new Semaglutide drug used by Hollywood A-listers will be sold in the U.K from spring to promote weight-loss in Britain.
The drug is manufactured in Denmark by giant pharmaceutical, Novo Nordisk. The manufacturers have said that the drug will be put on the U.K. market “as soon as possible” and will “launch” under the name of Wegovy.
“Aimed specifically at “shedding pounds”.”
Currently, Semaglutide is known under the name of Ozempic in the U.K and is used to treat weight-related illness such as diabetes. It has a side-effect of weight loss.
Wegovy, in contrast, will be aimed specifically at “shedding pounds”.
In terms of the administration, the drug is given once weekly via a medical pen. Side effects include a loss of appetite, although some doctors have expressed concern that facial ageing could also be an issue.
Sixteen percent of body weight is apparently lost, after administration for a year.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the drug is expected to be sold in popular retailers such as Boots.
Novo Nordisk has openly opposed “off-label prescribing”, commenting that “patient safety” is their “priority”.
Boots has described the drug as a “prescription-only weight loss medicine that can help regulate appetite and reduce cravings.”
“Consistent weight loss can be achieved.”
The outlet says that by combining the drug with “increased physical activity”, “healthy lifestyle choices”, and “reduced calorie diet”, consistent weight loss can be achieved.
Many well-known public names have reportedly used the drug, such as Elon Musk. Kim Kardashian is thought to have used Semaglutide to fit into a dress for the MET Gala once worn by Marilyn Monroe .
“Found it irritating to be accused of taking Ozempic”
Nevertheless, other celebrities have had less positive experiences regarding Semaglutide. Real Housewives of Beverley Hills’ star Kyle Richards has found it irritating to be accused of taking Ozempic, in order to lose weight. She denies it, and insists that “she goes to the gym for two hours every morning.”
The expected price of Wegovy is unclear. The current price of Ozempic is approximately £180 per month.
Image courtesy of Marco Verch Professional Photographer via Flickr. Image licence found here. No changes were made to this image
hwaltonh13
I am an aspiring political journalist, and am passionate about writing and reporting on local, national, and international news. Currently, I am a second year Undergraduate student studying English with Creative Writing at the University of Nottingham. I am a regular contributor to the News, Features, Reviews and Entertainment sections of the University's magazine, Impact, where I also hold the position of Head of the Reviews section. I am a member of the News team at University Radio Nottingham, where I am a panelist on the weekly News and Political shows, as well as partaking in reporting. Previous work experience includes a week's placement at Your LocalLink Magazine in York, in addition to shadowing MP Jason McCartney in Parliament. See my LinkedIn page for more. Over lockdown, I appeared on BBC Radio York during York, discussing my Creative Writing.