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Increasing access to Ozempic could save 40,000 American lives a year, study shows
A joint study from the Yale School of Public Health and the University of Florida has found that increasing access to weight-loss drugs like Ozempic could prevent up to 40,000 American deaths a year.
While the roots of Ozempic can be traced back to the 1970s, it has only become a major talking point since the FDA approved its use in 2017. Some say it’s cheating despite experts trashing that opinion. Regardless of opposition, there is no denying the power of the revolutionary drug, which can also help alcoholics to quit.
Ozempic could prevent more than 40,000 deaths a year
Though there have been drawbacks to the increased attention on Ozempic, including how it’s sparked countless knock-offs, a new piece of joint research serves to remind us how powerful it can be if used correctly.
To better understand how impactful Ozempic and drugs like it can be on mortality rates, researchers from the two prestigious institutions looked into the associations between mortality and body mass index (BMI), obesity prevalence, and current drug access limitations.
Through careful analysis, the researchers theorized that increasing access in the US alone could save up to 42,027 people a year. That estimation includes 11,769 deaths from those with type 2 diabetes.
If anyone still doubts the validity of Ozempic, the scientists further estimated that 8,592 lives have already been saved each year. Most of those had private insurance, so think of the good that could be done with better access for low-income and minority communities.
The study highlighted a clear issue in American healthcare
There’s a reason that celebrities are often linked with Ozempic and that’s because it is increasingly expensive, especially over long periods. Currently, the medications can exceed $1,000 per month without insurance.
On the insurance side of things, Medicare does not cover Ozempic at all, and Medicaid’s rules are different between States. Those with private insurance are often slapped with high deductibles and copays.
“Expanding access to these medications is not just a matter of improving treatment options but also a crucial public health intervention,” said Alison P. Galvani, one of the study’s lead authors. “Our findings underscore the potential to reduce mortality significantly by addressing financial and coverage barriers.”
While it would be nice to give such medications to anyone who requires them, the financial impact of Ozempic is too great to ignore.
“Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach,” said Dr. Burton H. Singer, PhD, from the University of Florida. “We need to ensure that drug prices are more aligned with manufacturing costs and increase production capacity to meet demand. At the same time, we must tackle the insurance and accessibility issues that prevent many people from getting the treatment they need.”
You can read the full study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
