Nature Medicine this week (January 20) published a study that revealed glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) – used to treat obesity and diabetes – were “associated with a reduced risk” of numerous illnesses.
“Compared to usual care, GLP-1RA use was associated with a reduced risk of substance use and...neurocognitive disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia,” it found.
According to the study, the medication was also associated with a reduced risk of psychotic disorders, seizures, coagulation disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, infectious illnesses and several respiratory conditions.
Read more: ‘New front line’: MHRA removes 150 social media posts selling fake weight loss drugs
Using the US Department of Veterans Affairs database, the study selected over 215,000 people with diabetes who “initiated” GLP-1RAs and compared them to data from around two million other individuals.
The study, however, also revealed that there was an “increased risk” of gastrointestinal disorders, hypotension and arthritic disorders, among other things, associated with GLP-1RAs.
“The results provide insights into the benefits and risks of GLP-1RAs and may be useful for informing clinical care and guiding research agendas,” it said.
Advertising crack-down
Meanwhile, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) this week (January 20) revealed that it had asked four companies to amend their advertising of weight loss services in December after receiving complaints.
This was to “ensure that prescription-only-medicines (POMs) - including advertisement for use outside the terms of their licence - are not promoted to the public”, it said.
Read more: AI eBay algorithm blocks two million illegal medicine sales
Dr Frank’s Weight Loss Clinic, NowPatient, Rightangled and Weight Loss Online (WLO) – trading as “The Skinny Jab” - were all advised that images and information “about medicines that are not licensed for weight loss should not be presented as such on their webpages”.
“We reminded them that the suitability of a particular product as part of a weight-management service should be a professional prescribing decision based on a consultation to identify the suitability of any product or treatment,” the MHRA added.
“Rectified promptly”
NowPatient clinical safety officer Navin Khosla said that it “amended” its webpages and “corrective actions were carried out within 24 hours of receiving the notification”, adding that these “were accepted by the MHRA and the matter closed”.
And a Rightangled spokesperson said that there was “an oversight by the marketing agency [they work with] and it was rectified promptly once [Rightangled was] aware of it”.
Read more: Pharmacist thwarts diabetes patient flogging excess Mounjaro
“We remain fully compliant with the MHRA blue guidelines in relation to the promotion of POMs,” they added.
C+D also approached Dr Frank’s Weight Loss Clinic and Weight Loss Online (WLO) for comment.
Read more: ‘Superior weight loss’ drug: Mounjaro squashing rival Wegovy
It comes as the MHRA exclusively told C+D last month that it took down 150 social media posts “actively” selling counterfeit weight loss drugs in 2024.
Deputy director of its criminal enforcement unit Andy Morling said that social media has “become the new front line” for the sale of such medicines.
And eBay worked with the regulator to block the sale of almost two million illegal medicines last year, the e-commerce company exclusively revealed to C+D this month
