Use of GLP-1 analogue drugs is associated with benefits but also health risks The use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), used to treat diabetes and obesity, may be associated with a wide range of health effects, both positive - such as a reduced risk of cardiometabolic disorders - and negative - an increased risk of gastrointestinal conditions or hypertension
Incretin hormones are secreted in response to nutrient intake, with glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) released from the upper and lower small intestines, respectively 4
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Additionally, many plans impose quantity limits or require step therapy with older medications first, further extending timelines
Innovations introduced longer-acting formulations: semaglutide (novel peptide with fatty acid modifications) enabled once-weekly dosing and was first approved as Ozempic (T2D, 2017) and then as Wegovy (obesity, 2021)
