Only one in five patients taking blockbuster weight loss drugs keep the pounds off after stopping the drugs, a study suggests.
Dates of Epic research looked at almost 40,000 records of patients taking weight-loss drugs containing semaglutide or liraglutide – the active ingredients in Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, among others.
Researchers found that up to a year after stopping the drugs, only about 20 percent of patients maintained their weight, and nearly one in five regained all the weight they had lost, or even more.
However, one in three patients continued to see weight loss within 12 months of stopping the medication.
The findings come as manufacturers such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly face dozens of lawsuits from patients who have suffered stomach paralysis, diarrhea and suicidal thoughts after taking weight-loss drugs.
And drug makers have come under more fire recently for raising their prices by nearly five percent to more than $1,000 for a month’s supply.
Epic Research experts evaluated more than 20,000 patients taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. They found that after 12 months, one in five had regained all the weight they had lost
At the beginning of 2022 alone, approximately 9 million prescriptions were written for Ozempic
Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for the drug semaglutide, which suppresses appetite and causes weight loss.
The drug binds to the GLP-1 receptor, a protein that activates hormones in the brain that keep the stomach full and tell the body to stop eating and avoid cravings.
Ozempic is only approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with type 2 diabetes, although off-label use for weight loss is becoming more common.
Liraglutide, which works similarly, is the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Victoza.
Although the medications are largely similar, some studies suggest that semaglutide is more effective for weight loss.
a study published in JAMAFor example, participants taking semaglutide found a 16 percent weight change compared to liraglutide participants who saw a 6.4 percent difference.
However, there are few long-term data on GLP-1 agonists. And neither Ozempic nor Victoza are FDA-approved for weight loss.
Drug companies have raised prices on more than 770 medications since the start of the year — including drugs used daily by millions of Americans
A British study found that people taking Wegovy experienced rapid weight loss, losing 18% of their weight in 68 weeks. They regained two-thirds of that weight, or 12% of their original body weight, in the year after they stopped the weekly injections. Experts say the drug must be used for a lifetime to keep the pounds off
The researchers studied 20,274 patients who took semaglutide and successfully gained at least five pounds while taking it.
They also looked at 17,733 adults who received liraglutide and lost at least five pounds.
All participants had been prescribed one of the medications between 2017 and 2023. They had to have taken the drug for at least 90 consecutive days and not use other GLP-1 agonists for at least a year.
The research team did not specify whether patients were taking the drugs for diabetes, weight loss or some other reason.
In total, 56.2 percent of users stayed the same weight or continued to lose pounds.
However, the researchers found that 17.7 percent of patients taking semaglutide regained all the weight they had lost, or even more.
Additionally, about 26 percent regained more than a quarter of the weight they lost.
And about 20 percent maintained their weight loss.
In the liraglutide group, 18.7 percent of users experienced complete weight gain or exceeded their original weight, although 21 percent either stayed at about the same weight.
The findings come as patients taking drugs containing semaglutide and liraglutide have reported regaining weight after stopping the drugs.
Artemis Bayandor, a 41-year-old from Illinois, lost 15 pounds during her six-month treatment with Ozempic in 2021.
But just a month after coming off it, she regained all the weight she lost — and over the next few months, she piled on another 20 pounds.
Today, she weighs 246 pounds – 16 pounds more than the 230 pounds she weighed before taking Ozempic.
Ms Bayandor said her appetite had become ‘insatiable’, causing her to constantly snack and take larger portions at dinner.
Patients have also previously told DailyMail.com that the blockbuster drugs led to serious problems such as stomach paralysis, organ failure and suicidal thoughts.
The manufacturers have also recently been criticized for rising prices.
Novo Nordisk, for example, increased the price by 3.5 percent to almost $970 per month.
Meanwhile, Eli Lilly increased Mounjaro’s costs by 4.5 percent to nearly $1,070 per month.
Novo Nordisk has said it believes the allegations in the lawsuits are “baseless” and that the company will “vigorously defend against these claims.”
And Eli Lilly said that “patient safety is Lilly’s top priority,” adding that it will “vigorously defend against these claims.”