Not just semaglutide, an anti-diabetic drug also studied in the treatment of obesity. Over the next 5 years, “a dozen new molecules capable of broadening the treatment possibilities compared to the two approaches available in the past: lifestyle modification and surgery” have arrived, explained Luca Bussetto, vice-president of Southern Europe of ‘European congress on Obesity (Easo) which opened at the Lido of Venice yesterday. «On the same line of development as semaglutide – continues the expert on the sidelines of the congress – we will have an oral formulation which is already in the clinical trial phase. Also on the way is a non-peptide Glp1 analogue drug, which can be taken by mouth, now in phase 3 testing. Furthermore, a combination of semaglutide and cagrilintide is being tested. We will then have a whole other part dedicated to polyagonists, i.e. molecules that have a stimulating action on different receptors. The one that is closest to being put on the market is called tirzepatide, already on the market in the USA for the treatment of both diabetes and obesity and already approved by the EMA for the treatment of obesity. Then we will also have retatrutide. But this is only the list of drugs in a very advanced testing phase, many others are being studied.” In the coming years, therefore, semaglutide «will have many “siblings” that are developing. This is certainly an important leap in quality in treatment opportunities, but it must always be remembered that the drug represents only part of the tools available for the treatment of a complex disease such as obesity.”
Busetto added: «No specialist from the Italian and European Obesity Society thinks that we will solve the problem of this disease with a drug, just as no diabetologist or cardiologist looks at a pill as a single solution. However, drugs represent an important turning point, which can improve the management of obese patients, broadening treatment options.” But there is a turning point, the expert underlines also on the basis of the announced data – which will be released tomorrow at the congress – on the use of semaglutide, the anti-diabetes drug which also has an anti-obesity effect, which also promises to be positive with respect to cardiovascular risks. «Until now – continued Busetto – we had two possible options: on the one hand the modification of lifestyles, an approach which is capable of producing beneficial effects in itself, but it is a weak therapy in producing a significant and stable weight loss for the patient. On the other hand we had bariatric surgery, which is capable of producing a significant weight loss, in most cases stable over time, but for obvious reasons it cannot be ‘the’ solution because it can only be done in people at risk high, with severe obesity. And even the numbers of possible interventions are really minimal compared to the obesity numbers.” In short, «we had a big clinical gap, we were struggling a lot. In this sense, the introduction of this drug, but also of those that will come from here in the next 5 years – the specialist predicts – will change a lot. We have seen this with other diseases. The solution, in short, is not a drug. There are no magic pills, but it is very useful.”
