A rising number of teenagers in the United States are turning to Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) amidst increasing rates of pediatric obesity. Despite struggling to meet demand from adult patients, Novo Nordisk has seen a significant surge in the number of children aged 12 to 17 initiating Wegovy treatment. In the first ten months of 2023, 1,268 children with obesity began using the drug, compared to just 25 prescriptions in 2022. Data from health technology company Komodo Health also indicates a growing willingness among families to embrace Wegovy, as shown by Medicaid data from five states. However, the overall numbers are still modest, with only 464 children prescribed the drug across the five states since January 2022. This is concerning given that approximately 20% of U.S. children, or around 14.7 million, are affected by obesity. Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda, another weight-loss drug in the same class, saw a decrease in prescriptions among adolescents in 2023 compared to the previous year. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are testing their weight-loss drugs in younger age groups, with trials involving children as young as 6. However, there are concerns among medical experts, including Dr. Dan Cooper from the University of California at Irvine, about the lack of evidence on how these medications may impact the development of growing children. Recent studies on Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic (semaglutide) have shown positive results, such as a significant reduction in post-implantation joint infections and the safety of semaglutide for hip replacement patients. However, it is important to note that the use of AI tools helped in producing this content, which was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
The Surprising Rise of Wegovy: Teenagers Embrace Novo Nordisk’s Weight-Loss Drug amidst Pediatric Obesity Crisis
