Fighting fat: Will weight-loss drug Ozempic become a revelation in Czechia?

Since its introduction to the world’s mass market in 2019, the diabetic-treatment drug Ozempic has become a game changer in weight-loss treatment, particularly among people in the U.S. – now, it is gradually penetrating the Czech market.

Developed primarily for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Ozempic (which has the chemical name semaglutide) has also gained recognition for its ability to reduce feelings of hunger and extend the time taken for the stomach to empty, thereby aiding weight loss. It also has accompanying effects of reducing cardiovascular risk and improving other organs.

This is big news for Czechia, a country that has among the highest rates of overweightness and obesity in Europe – indeed, a finding from 2022 revealed that Czechia had the third-highest obesity rate in Europe.

It comes as no surprise, then, that more and more people in the country are turning to the new medicine. Last year, interest in the drug was so high that it went out of stock, having a particularly adverse effect on patients who needed it only for the treatment of type 2 diabetes rather than just to lose weight.

"Abroad, some patients obtained it at their own expense with a Czech prescription when there was a shortage on the market here," Emília Malicherová, head physician of medical facility ResTrial's diabetology and endocrinology department, told the Czech version of finance and lifestyle magazine Forbes.cz.

This event had its consequences. Since 2023, only a diabetologist, endocrinologist, or internist can prescribe Ozempic in Czechia. The prescription must also explicitly state that the recipient has diabetes (type 1 or 2). "In the Czech Republic, Ozempic should be prescribed to treat diabetes, not primarily obesity," Martin Haluzík, head of the Diabetology Center at the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague, told Forbes.

The Ministry of Health has also introduced prescription restrictions and even doctors cannot legally access Ozempic. "As a doctor, I can prescribe most medicines for myself, but I can't Ozempic, and that's right from my point of view," commented health specialist Jiří Štern.

Ozempic reduces weight in diabetics by 5 to 10 percent. In non-diabetics, this can range to around 15 percent, explains Haluzík. 

In the Czech Republic, the highest dose of Ozempic costs approximately CZK 2,400 monthly. Malicherová notes that for patients who qualify for reimbursement through their health insurance, the additional cost is minimal and varies depending on the pharmacy's pricing.

However, its popularity has also sparked controversy and concerns about its potential misuse.

According to health specialist Jiří Štern who spoke with the Czech version of finance magazine Forbes.cz, use of the drug carries its own risks: “If people rely only on the Ozempic drug [to lose weight] and do not change their lifestyle, the yo-yo effect will come.”

Counterfeits are also a serious issue. In October 2023, the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL) drew attention to fake or diluted versions of the drug, sold via unofficial sources, on its website. 

The greatest risk with counterfeit Ozempic lies in the dosage of the drug. The origin and content of these fake products are often unclear, which is why treatment with Ozempic or its alternatives should always be conducted under the careful supervision of a physician. The doctor determines and adjusts the dosage based on the patient's condition and any potential side effects.

"These side effects can be very serious, such as acute pancreatitis, which is a life-threatening condition. This is not a harmless pill with only beneficial effects," explains Štern. "For this reason, it should be used under medical supervision to prevent misuse. 

Czechia is also doing its own part in its attempt to counter overweightness and ovesity in the country. Scientists at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (UOCHB) in Prague this week announced the development of new molecules that have the potential to reduce appetite and protect against Alzheimer's disease.

The institute shared that its experts are currently investigating the mechanism by which these molecules work and how they are able to enter the brain. Led by Lenka Maletínská, the team at UOCHB has created a modified version of the neuropeptide CART, which naturally regulates food intake in the brain. This altered type has shown promising results in suppressing appetite and reducing the accumulation of the Tau protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers published their work in the European Journal of Pharmacology, and say their findings have been successfully tested in cell cultures and animals, including obese mice prone to diabetes. These mice experienced weight loss after being administered the new substance.

In the future, Štern believes that appetite suppressants will be administered “to a much greater extent” under the guidance of healthcare professionals. With obesity rates looking unhealthily large and climbing in Czechia, Ozempic will likely be a name heard more often in the coming years.