Ozempic is arguably the world’s most famous drug, a diabetes treatment turned miracle weight-loss cure that’s rocketed up the sales chart despite supply constraints. This may be only the beginning.
Recent studies have started to illuminate the far-reaching benefits of Ozempic and other medicines in the same class, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. The drugs appear to have a protective effect on the heart, liver and kidneys in addition to helping people lose weight, which in itself reduces the risk of many ailments. There’s also reason to believe GLP-1s could help combat substance abuse or even Alzheimer’s disease.
That’s bad news for a broad spectrum of makers of drugs and devices. For example, Americans spend about $250 billion a year treating cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the US. That includes what insurers and patients pay for blood pressure medicines, bypass surgery and implantable cardiac devices such as pacemakers.
Analysts at Wells Fargo Securities estimate that GLP-1s could reduce the market for cardiovascular disease treatments about 10% by 2050.
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