The next generation of weight-loss drugs

It’s no exaggeration to say that the past decade has revolutionized how we think about and treat obesity. Drugs like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) have dominated headlines, enabling significant weight loss at speeds once considered unthinkable. The market for innovative weight loss medications is booming, with pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in hopes of developing the next blockbuster drug.

However, amid this race for market dominance, many experts are questioning whether the amount of weight loss alone is the best measure of these drugs’ usefulness. How can the next generation of obesity treatments meaningfully improve upon the powerful options already available?

Joining The Lancet editors Callam Davidson and Miriam Sabin to discuss this question is Professor Steven Heymsfield from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. This wide-ranging conversation covers exciting pharmaceutical advances and limitations of these treatments, including the significant disparities in access, and why these breakthroughs may have broader societal implications.

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