What is Semaglutide?
'''Semaglutide''', sold under the brand names ''Ozempic'', ''Wegovy'' and ''Rybelsus'', is a drug used to treat [[type 2 diabetes]] and reduce obesity. It was developed by [[Novo Nordisk]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=27 Oct 2021|title=Wegovy (semaglutide): a new weight loss drug for chronic weight management|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8717485/|journal=Journal of Investigative Medicine}}</ref> It was approved for use in America in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ozempic (semaglutide) FDA Approval History|url=https://www.drugs.com/history/ozempic.html|access-date=2023-03-08|website=Drugs.com|language=en}}</ref> It was approved in Europe in 2022 <ref>{{Cite web|last=EMA|date=2021-11-11|title=Wegovy|url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/wegovy|access-date=2023-03-08|website=European Medicines Agency|language=en}}</ref> and in the [[National Health Service]] in 2023. Sales of Wegovy increased five-fold in 2023. Ozempic became the world's biggest-selling diabetes drug.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2024-02-11|title=Wegovy, the 'Viagra' of weight-loss drugs flying off the shelves|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68226369|access-date=2024-02-12}}</ref> People who had the weekly injection saw their weight drop by 12% on average after 68 weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|last=PA|last2=Britton|first2=Paul|date=2023-03-08|title=Weight loss injection popular with celebrities is approved for NHS use|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/game-changer-weight-loss-injection-26415191|access-date=2023-03-08|website=Manchester Evening News|language=en}}</ref> It is also [[Prescription|prescribed]] for heart conditions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kuchler|first=Hannah|date=2023-09-01|title=Novo Nordisk briefly eclipses LVMH as Europe’s most valuable company|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/97e89e94-38cb-4a22-9a17-c110e39958bc?|access-date=2023-09-02}}</ref> In a trial of more than 17,600 people aged above 45 with obesity who h