From diabetes medication to the weight loss miracle: Europe's new hype!

From diabetes medication to the weight loss miracle: Europe's new hype!

The hype about GLP-1 medication such as "Ozempic" and "Mounjaro", originally developed for the treatment of diabetes, has triggered a considerable market boom in Europe. As Kosmo , consumers in the USA will pay for these medication per month, which reflects the enormous request. In Italy, the private market for obesity drugs in 2024 was estimated at impressive 26 billion euros, more than ten times the value of 2020.

Expenditures in Italy doubled from 52 million euros in 2023 to over 115 million euros in 2024, although the state health system does not cover the costs for these weight loss injections. However, a new law could recognize obesity as a chronic illness and enable future reimbursements. In Greece, the consumption of deductors rose by 82.5 percent to 93 million euros in 2024, and “Ozempic” is very popular here. In contrast, “Mounjaro” has only been available in Greece since November 2024.

market development in Europe

in Portugal, almost 20 million euros flowed into medication Tirzatid ("Mounjaro") and Semaglutide ("Wegovy") in the first four months of 2025. The latter was introduced in April 2025 and already recorded 6,800 units sold per month. In Spain, sales with discounters rose by 65 percent to 484 million euros in 2024, although retail expenses for medication in Spain are 21 percent below the EU average

In Germany, the price for "Wegovy" and "Mounjaro" is up to 300 euros per month, and the health insurance companies hardly cover these costs. In Poland, access to "Ozempic" is much easier because it is reimbursed for diabetics and can even be obtained telemedically. In France, an evaluation process for the reimbursement of "Mounjaro" is currently being initiated in certain obesity cases, while in the UK of the NHS since 2023 "Wegovy" and since 2024 "Mounjaro" within the framework of specialized treatment programs.

security and side effects

These drugs are not only of interest because of their effectiveness to reduce weight; They are also the focus of security. According to Ärzteblatt 17,500 overweight or obese participants with cardiovascular previous illnesses, but without diabetes, that drug weight loss reduces the risk of cardiovascular events.

The most common side effects under Semaglutid, as shown in the Select study, include gastrointestinal complaints. There were also significant therapy dropouts of 16.6 percent, which are often due to these side effects. Although the substance class is relatively secure, an EMA risk assessment did not result in a connection between GLP-1 receptor agonists and suicidal thoughts.

In a further analysis of the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, as well as from medinfo it is emphasized that obesity is a chronic disease is that requires long -term treatment. Nevertheless, the abuse of off-label applications is problematic because it potentially affects the care of patients with type 2 diabetes who have a medical indication for the use of these medication.

Overall, the Europe-wide trend for the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists as a weight loss, taking into account the security and the side effects, is of great importance and requires an informed approach.