WeightWatchers offers a brand of Ozempic, despite FDA concerns
WeightWatchers says it will offer a compounded version of semaglutide, the drug better known by the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, despite concerns from the US Food and Drug Administration about unapproved versions of the drug. According to the company’s announcement, the new offering will be added to its existing programs and comes as a result of the long-term shortage of well-known drugs, also known as GLP-1 drugs. That high demand has created a market for compounded types of weight loss drugs. In fact, WeightWatchers said that half of their current members have shown consideration for medication while 45% of those who were eligible were denied by their insurance in the past six months. are eligible for this class of medication but many cannot afford or access it,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. The WeightWatchers website states that semaglutide its compound contains the same active ingredient found in brand names and is produced by an FDA-registered facility. Dr. Fatime Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician at Brigham General and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical, warns that compounded drugs are not the same and are not tested. Note that they are not subject to rigorous testing and FDA drug quality control standards,” he said. As 5 Researchers have reported, the FDA has issued a warning expressing “concern” about compounded semaglutide.” This could be dangerous for patients, as unapproved versions are not evaluated by the FDA for safety, efficacy and value before they are sold,” the statement said. As of late August, the FDA said it had received 346 reports of adverse events related to compounded semaglutide. The ministry also warned that problems may go unreported. “We’ve seen a 20-fold increase in toxicity to prescription medications specifically for weight management in this country,” Stanford said. “Because there is not the same consistency. I would not put my patients through this. There are different types of potency, cleanliness and overall quality that may affect the protection that patients have .” “Patient safety and education are our top priorities, which is why anyone who prescribes compounded GLP-1 receives a step-by-step guide on how to use the medication safely. , including access to one-on-one help from a trained telehealth practitioner,” WeightWatchers Medical Director Dr. Jamil Alkhaddo said in a statement issued by the company. Both Ellerin and Stanford agreed that patients should talk to their doctor when considering these medications. ” said Ellerin.
WeightWatchers says it will offer a compounded version of semaglutide, the drug better known by the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, despite concerns from the US Food and Drug Administration about unapproved versions of the drug.
According to the company’s announcement, the new offering will be added to its existing programs and comes as a result of the long-term shortage of well-known drugs, also known as GLP-1 drugs. That high demand has created a market for compounded types of weight loss drugs.
In fact, WeightWatchers said that half of their current members have indicated drug addiction while 45% of those who are eligible have been denied coverage in the past six months.
Dr. “We’re at a crossroads here, where we have millions of patients who are eligible for this class of drugs but many will not be able to afford or afford them,” said Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. get.”
The WeightWatchers website says its compounded semaglutide contains the same ingredient available in brand names and is manufactured by an FDA-registered facility.
Dr. Fatime Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine doctor at Mass General Brigham and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, warns that the combined types of drugs are not the same and are not tested.
“When we deal with compounded medicines, we must be aware that they are not subject to the rigorous testing and quality control standards of the FDA,” he said.
As 5 Researchers previously reported, the FDA has issued a warning describing “concerns” about the compound semaglutide.
“This can be dangerous for patients, as unapproved versions are not evaluated by the FDA for safety, efficacy and quality before being marketed,” the statement said.
Since the end of August, the FDA said it has received 346 reports of adverse events related to the combined semaglutide. The ministry also warned that problems may go unreported.
“We’ve seen a 20-fold increase in toxicity to prescription medications specifically for weight management in this country,” Stanford said. “Because there is not the same consistency. I would not put my patients through this. There are different types of potency, cleanliness and overall quality that may affect the protection that patients have .”
“Patient safety and education are our top priorities, which is why anyone who prescribes compounded GLP-1 receives a step-by-step guide on how to use the medication safely. , including access to one-on-one help from a trained telehealth practitioner,” WeightWatchers Medical Director Dr. Jamil Alkhaddo said in a statement issued by the company.
Both Ellerin and Stanford agreed that patients should consult their doctor when considering these medications.
“We have to weigh the risks and the benefits, and there are risks here because you usually take these medications at home,” Ellerin said.
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