GLP-1 Agonist Sales to Explode Off-Label, Can Lilly Catch the Runaway Danish Obesity Fighting Train?

TrialSite has reported on surging demand for the novel class of drug now approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) known as Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, targeting initially type 2 diabetes and more recently obesity. The demand for this class of product has surged so much that the first maker, Novo Nordisk in Denmark has become that Scandinavian nation&rsquo;s most valuable company. The off-label use of Novo Nordisk&rsquo;s Ozempic, the brand name of the GLP-1 agonist semaglutide, for cosmetic weight loss has been popularized by social media and celebrity influence. Enter the focus of the present study. The team of investigators analyzed Google Trends (Alphabet Inc., Mountain View, CA) the recent search popularity of Ozempic and related GLP-1 agonists. &nbsp;Expecting a massive surge in sales (driven by off label demand of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, the researchers point out that plastic surgeons, particularly in the aesthetic setting, need to be ready for downstream implications. This reflects the need for greater awareness, understanding, and ongoing scientific investigation led by plastic surgeons. The ultimate goal a better understanding of the risks, benefits and knowledge to advance&nbsp; patient outcomes reports Sarah Virk, M.D.,  &nbsp;board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon with the Stanford Health Care Cancer Center and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic &amp; Reconstructive Surgery and colleagues. &nbsp;
The Study