SEMAGLUTIDE - SCI &
TECH
News: WHO issues warning on
falsified medicines used for diabetes treatment and weight loss
What's in the news?
●
The World
Health Organization (WHO) issued a medical product alert on falsified
semaglutides, the type of medicines that are used for treatment of type 2
diabetes and obesity in some countries.
Key takeaways:
●
The alert addresses 3 falsified batches of product
of semaglutide class of medicines (of specific brand Ozempic), which have been
detected in Brazil in October 2023, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland in October 2023, and the United States of America in December
2023.
●
WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System
(GSMS) has been observing increased reports on falsified semaglutide products
in all geographical regions since 2022.
○
This is the first official notice issued by WHO
after confirmation of some of the reports.
●
This ‘magic
injection’ contains a drug called Semaglutide.
●
However, many of the articles promoting these drugs
fail to mention that this weight loss drug has not been approved for sale in
India but is being administered by doctors to patients who are mostly affluent.
Semaglutide:
●
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which means it
mimics the effects of a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
Features:
●
GLP-1 helps regulate
blood sugar levels and appetite.
●
Semaglutide is available as an injection or as a tablet taken by mouth.
●
It is important to note that semaglutide is not a
substitute for a healthy diet and exercise.
Significance:
Semaglutide is a medication that is used for two main purposes such as
1. Treating Type 2
Diabetes:
●
It helps the body produce more insulin and lowers
blood sugar levels.
2. Reduce Weight:
●
It aids in weight loss in adults with obesity or
overweight, along with diet and exercise.
Go back to basics:
Miracle Drugs:
●
Miracle drugs are pharmaceutical substances that
have a transformative impact on the
treatment of certain medical conditions.
●
These drugs are often characterized by their
exceptional efficacy, groundbreaking
therapeutic outcomes, and the ability to significantly improve patient
outcomes.
●
For example
- Penicillin (Effectively treating bacterial infections), Insulin (Life saving
drug for Diabetes treatment), Antiretroviral Drugs for HIV/AIDS (AIDS
treatment), Sovaldi/Sofosbuvir (Hepatitis C treatment), Trikafta (cystic
fibrosis medications).
Unapproved Miracle Drugs
in India:
●
However, several unapproved miracle drugs are being
used in India.
● For example - Semaglutide & Fen-Phen (Drugs used for weight loss in India), Adcetris (To treat blood cancers.