Ozempic

Semaglutide

Main article: Semaglutide

2025

Finding a New Side Effect - Hair Loss

At the end of September 2025, American specialists from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at George Washington University released the results of a study suggesting that the use of Ozempik and other similar drugs can provoke hair loss.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a drug, an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (aGLP-1), used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. The use of semaglutide can provoke various side effects, including transient gastrointestinal disorders from mild to moderate severity, gallbladder diseases, inflammation of the pancreas, risk of depression, etc. A new study suggests that the drug may also contribute to baldness.

Ozempik found a new side effect - hair falls out

During the work, experts analyzed information about more than 1 million patients who had no history of hair loss. Scientists have identified approximately 548 thousand people who received semaglutide from 2014 to 2024. Their data were matched to measures of the same number of people who did not take the drug and who also had no history of hair loss or predisposition to it.

It turned out that six months after starting semaglutide, the likelihood of hair loss increased by 26%. In the case of androgenetic alopecia (thinning of hair), the risk of baldness increases by 62%. A year later, the likelihood of hair loss increases by 76%.

As noted, although the action of the drugs of this class is aimed at receptors associated with digestion and insulin production, which are not directly related to hair growth, stress for the body caused by rapid weight loss can provoke baldness.^[1]

The Supreme Court of Russia allowed the production of Ozempik analogues without the consent of the manufacturer

The Board of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Russia rejected the complaint of the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk and confirmed the legality of government orders allowing Russian manufacturers to produce drugs with the active substance semaglutide without the consent of the patent holder until the end of 2025. The decision strengthens the position of domestic pharmaceutical companies in the market of analogues of the antidiabetic drug Ozempik, whose sales in January - June 2025 more than quadrupled to ₽12,5 billion. The corresponding ruling was made at the end of July 2025.

According to Forbes, the court upheld government orders No. 3286-r of November 15, 2024 and No. 3930-r of December 21, 2024, which granted PSK Pharma LLC and Promomed Rus LLC the right to produce drugs with semaglutide. A copy of the Supreme Court ruling was sent to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on August 6, 2025.

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation allowed the production of generic Ozempik drugs without the permission of the copyright holder

The legal basis for the decision was Article 1360 of the Civil Code of Russia, which gives the government the right, if absolutely necessary, to allow the use of inventions without the consent of patent holders. The norm is applied when it is necessary to ensure the defense and security of the state or to protect the life and health of citizens.

The dispute involved six inventions owned by Novo Nordisk, including two patents No. 2421238 and No. 2657573, for which the company filed a complaint in court. Patent No. 2421238 was partially canceled by the decision of Rospatent even before the signing of government orders, and patent No. 2657573 is related to the treatment of obesity.

Novo Nordisk argued during court arguments that there was no emergency in the country that could justify the enforcement of patents. The company also pointed to the lack of notice of acceptance of acts and non-payment of compensation, as required by law.^[2]

Ozempik found a new side - the contents of the stomach regularly enters the esophagus and destroys the mucous membrane

Ozempic and other similar drugs may increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and related complications. This is stated in a study by scientists from McGill University and the Lady Davis Institute in Montreal, the results of which were released in mid-July 2025.

GERD is a chronic disease in which there is a regular flushing (reflux) of stomach contents into the esophagus, resulting in damage to its mucosa and the appearance of characteristic symptoms.

Doctors found that Ozempik provokes a regular throw of gastric contents into the esophagus

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a drug agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (aGLP-1). This drug is used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. In addition to ozempic, semaglutide is an active ingredient in other drugs such as Rebelsas and Vegovi.

During the study, experts compared the data of approximately 24.7 thousand patients taking GLP-1 drugs with health indicators of 89.1 thousand people who received drugs of a different class - inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (NGLT-2). It turned out that patients from the first group had a 27% higher risk of GERD, while the risk of complications was 55% higher than those from the second group.

It was also established that 90% of GERD complications are associated with Barrett's esophagus - a precancerous condition: in this disease, the flat multilayer epithelium of the mucous membrane of the lower esophagus is transformed into a cylindrical epithelium of the intestinal type. Overall, the risk of serious complications due to GERD is higher in smokers, obese people, and patients who already have other stomach problems. In addition, GERD is more likely to occur with long-term use of GLP-1.^[3]

A new side effect - pancreatitis

The popular drug for the treatment of diabetes and weight loss "Ozempik" revealed a new serious side effect - the development of acute pancreatitis, which in some cases leads to death. The British medicines regulatory agency MHRA has initiated a massive investigation after receiving hundreds of reports of pancreatic inflammation in patients taking Class GPP-1 drugs. Information about this appeared at the end of June 2025.

According to The Guardian, the regulator received alarming statistics on the drugs Munjaro, Ozempik and Vegovi, which belong to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. In 2025 alone, the Yellow Cards monitoring system registered 101 reports of pancreatitis in patients taking tirzepatide.

Ozempik found a new side effect - it causes pancreatitis

Users of semaglutide, which is the active ingredient of Ozempika and Vegovi, recorded 22 cases of acute pancreatitis in 2025. In total, since the beginning of the observations, about 400 similar reports of the development of inflammation of the pancreas have accumulated.

Almost half of all reported cases of pancreatitis concern Munjaro. An MHRA spokesperson said there was a clear correlation between the rise in popularity of these drugs and an increase in reports of side effects.

Of particular concern to regulators is the discrepancy between the actual incidence of pancreatitis and the information in the product instructions. Official documents list inflammation of the pancreas as a "rare" side effect, occurring in about one patient in a hundred.

In response to the alarming statistics, the MHRA launched a joint study with the British company Genomics England. The study aims to identify possible genetic risk factors for pancreatitis when taking GPP-1 drugs.

Study participants hospitalized with acute pancreatitis while taking GPP-1 drugs will be offered to provide saliva samples for detailed genetic analysis. The aim of the study is to determine if there are hereditary factors that increase the risk of developing pancreatic inflammation.^[4]

Ozempic and Wegovy may lead to blindness

In June 2025, the European regulator warned that weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy (Novo Nordisk) could cause the rare eye disease NAION, leading to blindness.

The risk affects up to 1 in 10,000 patients. Studies have shown that type 2 diabetics taking Ozempic are more than twice as likely to develop eye disease. The EMA recommends that patients seek urgent medical attention for sudden loss or visual impairment.

NAION is more common in people over the age of 50 and can lead to permanent blindness.

Payments of millions of compensation to Russian pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk for the release of analogues of Ozempik

In March 2025, it became known that UCS "Pharma" Promomed"" producing Ozempik analogues under a compulsory license made payments to the Danish Novo Nordisk company, which owns a patent for semaglutide. So far, we are talking about small amounts - no more than 15 million, rubles but a precedent has been created, notes "."Kommersant

"" Geropharm told the publication that they did not pay the remuneration, "since the permission was issued taking into account the restrictions on the payment of remuneration to foreign copyright holders from unfriendly countries." Novo Nordisk reported that they "did not participate in negotiations regarding semaglutide Russia in and did not receive licensing rewards."

82 British residents die after trying to lose weight with diabetic drugs ozempic and munjaro

On February 23, 2025, it became known that in Britain more than 80 people died after using ozempic and munjaro drugs. In addition, almost 400 patients have been hospitalized in the country since the advent of these medicines.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a drug, an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (aGLP-1), used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. In turn, munjaro (tirzepatide) is an antidiabetic drug used, among other things, to reduce weight and treat obstructive sleep apnea.

82 UK residents die after using diabetic drugs ozempic and munjaro to reduce weight

According to the Medicines and Medical Devices Regulatory Agency (MHRA), by the end of January 2025, at least 22 deaths were recorded in Britain due to ozempic and munjaro in order to reduce weight. A further 60 aircraft cases are associated with the use of these agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

According to the Daily Mail, almost 30 deaths have also been reported in Britain due to the use of rebelsas and vegovi, the active ingredient in which, as in ozempik, is semaglutide. In addition, 35 cases of death after taking saxenda and victose (the active ingredient is liraglutide) are known, which can be used to correct body weight.

It is estimated that all of the listed drugs in Britain are taken by about half a million people. Some patients talk about side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and doctors warn of "life-threatening complications," including seizures or bowel obstruction. Against this background, many experts and medical organizations, including the Society of Emergency Medicine, call for tougher control over the prescription of these drugs to patients.^[5]

Eye stroke. People taking ozempic lose their eyesight

On February 3, 2025, American specialists from the John Moran Ophthalmology Center at the University of Utah released the results of a study that suggests that patients taking ozempic significantly increase the risk of vision loss.

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a drug, an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (aGLP-1), used in the therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. In addition to ozempic, semaglutide is an active ingredient in other drugs such as rebelsas and vegovi.

People taking ozempic lose their eyesight

In July 2024, the researchers concluded that this class of drugs increased the risk of patients developing non-arterial anterior ischemic optical neuropathy, which is essentially an eye stroke. This condition is characterized by an acute violation of blood circulation in the vessels of the optic nerve, a sudden decrease in visual acuity and/or a change in visual field, which later leads to the development of partial or complete loss of vision.

The study, conducted by specialists from the John Moran Eye Center, involved nine people who had vision problems while taking these drugs. Seven of them were diagnosed with an eye stroke, one with optical papillitis (a specific type of optic neuritis), another with paracentral acute median maculopathy (a rare disease of the middle layers of the central retina).

After analyzing the available data, the scientists concluded that the cause of these complications may be rapid changes in blood sugar levels caused by drugs, and not the toxic effect of these drugs, as previously assumed. However, more research is required to obtain more accurate results.^[6]

U.S. Approval for Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

In January 2025, Novo Nordisk A/S's blockbuster Ozempic received U.S. approval for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, further expanding the scope of the popular drug.

2024: Drug success turns Novo Nordisk into Europe's most expensive company

The success of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy turned Novo Nordisk in February 2024 into the largest European company by capitalization.

2023: Suicidal ideation from taking drugs

In July 2023, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) began to study the situation around Novo Nordisk drugs. According to available information, some means of this supplier provoke thoughts of suicide.

We are talking, in particular, about the Ozempic tool. This semaglutide is an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (aGLP-1). The drug is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Another substance that has come under regulatory scrutiny is called Saxenda. The active component of this preparation is liraglutide, an acylated analogue of human GPP-1 produced by recombinant DNA biotechnology using a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

It is said that these drugs can cause serious side effects in patients. So, when taking these funds, cases were recorded when patients thought about suicide or self-harm. The problem has been raised by the Icelandic Medicines Agency. The review began after complaints of two cases of suicidal ideation and one case of self-harm received from Icelandic citizens taking Novo Nordisk for diabetes and/or obesity.

Novo Nordisk said patient safety is the company's top priority. The business is said to take all reports of adverse events seriously. The company's own safety monitoring did not reveal a causal link between self-harm thoughts and drugs, the statement said.

At least 60 reports of suicidal thoughts from patients taking semaglutide have been received since 2018, according to public information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FAERS) Adverse Event Reporting System. The measures that can be taken in relation to these drugs are not reported.^[7]

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