{"id":72273,"date":"2024-07-29T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T08:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/76616b3d9d810f49bf17c5efc2e884aa"},"modified":"2024-07-29T08:00:10","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T08:00:10","slug":"diabetes-patients-now-have-access-to-first-generic-glp-1-medication-more-accessible-and-affordable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/diabetes-patients-now-have-access-to-first-generic-glp-1-medication-more-accessible-and-affordable\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes patients now have access to first generic GLP-1 medication: \u2018More accessible and affordable\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications have gained widespread popularity for weight loss and diabetes control<\/u><\/span> in recent years \u2014 but the spike in demand has made it difficult for some people to get the drugs.<\/p>\n

To help eliminate supply chain snafus, the first-ever generic GLP-1 \u2014 a duplicate of Victoza \u2014 launched on June 25.<\/p>\n

Manufactured by Novo Nordisk and distributed and sold by Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals, Victoza is an injectable medication intended to treat type 2 diabetes. It has also been shown to promote weight loss<\/u><\/span> in certain patients, according to Teva.<\/p>\n

OZEMPIC AND WEGOVY COULD DOUBLE AS KIDNEY DISEASE TREATMENT, STUDY SUGGESTS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide and Mounjaro has tirzepatide, Victoza has liraglutide as its active ingredient.<\/p>\n

“By launching an authorized generic for Victoza (liraglutide injection 1.8mg), we are providing patients with type 2 diabetes another option for this important treatment,” said Ernie Richardsen, SVP, head of U.S. commercial generics at Teva, in a press release from the company.<\/p>\n

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\"Victoza<\/picture><\/div>\n
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The first-ever generic GLP-1, a version of Teva Pharmaceuticals’ Victoza, launched in late June 2024.<\/span> (iStock; Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The new authorized generic is the exact same medication<\/u><\/span> as brand-name Victoza, but without the brand name on the label and sold at a lower price point, explained Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, the senior director of Pharmacy Content at GoodRx in St. Louis, Missouri.<\/p>\n

OZEMPIC, WEGOVY MAY BE LINKED TO STOMACH PARALYSIS AND OTHER DIGESTIVE ISSUES IN LARGE-SCALE STUDY<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Just as Wegovy is a higher-dose version of Ozempic to treat obesity<\/span>, there is a higher-dose version of Victoza \u2014 sold under the brand name Saxenda \u2014 but a generic version is not yet available.<\/p>\n

“This is a positive step forward to making GLP-1 agonist medications more accessible and affordable,” Billingsley told Fox News Digital via email. <\/p>\n

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\"Victoza\"<\/picture><\/div>\n
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Victoza is manufactured by Novo Nordisk and distributed and sold by Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals.<\/span> (Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This class of drugs has a growing list of beneficial applications beyond just treating type 2 diabetes<\/u><\/span>, Billingsley noted, but their cost can be a barrier for many people to access them.<\/p>\n

“In general, authorized generics are usually priced at a discount, potentially making them a more affordable option for some people,” she said. <\/p>\n

AMID ADHD DRUG SHORTAGE, FDA APPROVES GENERIC VERSION OF MEDICATION: ‘OPPORTUNE TIME’<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“However, some insurers may still prefer brand-name Victoza, even with a lower-cost authorized generic available.”<\/p>\n

Patients should check with their insurance provider<\/u><\/span> to confirm which options are covered and what they can expect to pay, Billingsley advised.<\/p>\n

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\"Close-up<\/picture><\/div>\n
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This class of drugs has a growing list of benefits, but cost can be a barrier for some patients.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert,<\/span> agreed that the availability of the first generic GLP-1 is “great news.”<\/p>\n

The generic\u2019s lower price point is particularly beneficial for people who have chronic conditions like diabetes, Osborn noted \u2014 “where long-term medication use is necessary to prevent downrange effects like vascular disease, strokes and heart attacks<\/u><\/span>, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer\u2019s, and obesity, the latter of which is also a \u2018gateway disease,\u2019” he said. <\/p>\n

Differences between liraglutide and semaglutide<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are some differences between the generic version of Victoza and Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists, doctors noted.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/span>      <\/strong><\/p>\n

The new drug\u2019s active ingredient is liraglutide instead of Ozempic\u2019s semaglutide \u2014 and it is approved for use in both adults and children age 10 and older<\/u><\/span> who have diabetes.<\/p>\n

Semaglutides are not yet approved for children.<\/p>\n

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\"Weight<\/picture><\/div>\n
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While semaglutides like Ozempic are given once each week, liraglutide medications require daily dosing because they have a shorter half-life.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There are also dosing differences \u2014 while semaglutides like Ozempic are given once each week, liraglutide medications require daily dosing because they have a shorter half-life, the doctor said.<\/p>\n

“Each medication has pros and cons,” Osborn said. “At base level, however, the molecules are similar and subserve identical bodily functions \u2014 appetite suppression and the promotion of insulin secretion from the pancreas.”<\/p>\n

For more Health articles, visit <\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/span>www.foxnews\/health<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

The most common side effects of liraglutides include nausea, vomiting<\/u><\/span>, diarrhea, decreased appetite, indigestion and constipation, according to the company\u2019s release. Other, more serious side effects are possible.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Patients who experience adverse or lingering side effects should see a health care provider<\/u><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to Teva Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk for comment.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications have gained widespread popularity for weight loss and diabetes control in recent years \u2014 but the spike in demand has made it difficult for some people to get the drugs. To help eliminate supply chain snafus, the first-ever generic GLP-1 \u2014 a duplicate of Victoza \u2014 launched on June …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","has-thumb","has-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72273"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72273\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}