Ozempic History in the US and UK

Even though Ozempic provides a relatively new form of treatment for diabetes, it was developed as early as 2012. Five years later, this injectable medication was approved to treat Type 2 Diabetes.  Recently, Ozempic was also approved to help in weight loss. This approval follows the growing evidence from various clinical trials that prove its effectiveness for weight loss treatment.

Ozempic Invention and Development

Ozempic was developed in 2012 by Jesper Lau, the Vice President of Diabetes protein & Peptide Chemistry (at Novo Nordisk). Lau, along with a team of scientists and top researchers at Denmark’s Novo Nordisk lab, takes credit for the discovery of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic. These scientists had to slightly modify semaglutide from liraglutide to come up with a longer-acting medication in the form of a  solution for a once-weekly injection. The modification was structural in nature, making Ozempic a once per week injection unlike the daily Saxenda (liraglutide).

Ozempic History in the US

After its discovery, semaglutide was given the name Ozempic which is actually its brand name. The drug is manufactured by Nordisk, a global pharmaceutical company that specializes in diabetes treatment. Ozempic clinical trial took place in 2015 and approved for Type 2 Diabetes treatment in 2017 in the United States.

Ozempic History in the UK

Ozempic was not approved to be used in the UK until one year after it was launched for use in the US. This approval came about after Ozempic proved to be effective in controlling blood glucose levels. Also, this medication showed a great improvement in weight loss among patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Regarding its safety, Ozempic’s side effects were compared with those of other medications used in treating diabetes. Most of its side effects were found to be manageable with a few being observed and investigated further. As a result, the European Medicines Agency(EMA) agreed that Ozempic’s benefits outweighed its risks. That’s why it was approved in the European Union, which by then the UK was a member.

Ozempic (Semaglutide) FDA Approval History

The first approval for the use of Ozempic to treat Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction was by FDA on December 5, 2017, in the US. The drug has since been administered in injection dosage form (0.5mg/1 mg) to improve glucose (blood sugar) levels and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, and death among individuals with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. The European community, which included the UK, approved Ozempic on February 9, 2018.

Ozempic Marketing Authorization

After Ozemic was approved for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in the UK, and EU in general, it was granted marketing authorization by the European Commission. This permission became effective across the EU on February 8, 2018. However, this medication is still under more intensive additional monitoring than other medicines in the same class.

Ozempic: How it is Used

Unlike most medications used for Type 2 Diabetic control, Ozempic can only be obtained in a solution form. Even though research is underway to develop tablets, this injectable medication comes in prefilled pens. It can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription. Besides, it is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) of the thigh, upper arm, or belly. The recommended dose is 0.25mg once weekly for a period of four weeks. Afterward, the dose can be increased to about 0.5mg once per week. In some cases, the dose can be increased to 1 mg  (maximum) once weekly.

Final Thought

At the moment there are no Ozempic generics but with time, you may see them on the market. However, semaglutide-the longer-acting and more potent medication-will always be under Novo Nordisk in the coming decades. That being said, you can learn more about this medication from Kiwi Drug, the online doctor.