Semaglutide, branded as Rybelsus, Wegovy or Mounjaro, most popularly identified by Ozempic (as branded by Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk), is arguably the most talked-about drug in 2024. This anti-diabetic drug has attained a near-mythical status, as it has been touted by some researchers, as an effective means to fight obesity.
Nithin Kamath On Ozempic
Talking about this very drug, Zerodha CEO and its co-founder Nithin Kamath shared his thought on the magic drug.
In a post on X, Kamath said, “I’ve been following the developments around Ozempic and GLP-1 drugs with some interest for a while, and last week Eli Lilly launched its variant, Mounjaro, in India. Remember, India has the highest number of diabetics, and if current trends hold, 30 per cent+ of Indians will be obese. I don’t think we have a good understanding of the second-order effects of these weight loss drugs, but so far, the effects people are reporting are remarkable.”
A fitness enthusiast himself, Kamath then spoke of the ‘miraculous’ nature of the drug, and said, “The obvious effect is that people can lose 15-20 per cent of their weight, as long as they keep taking the drug. But I’ve also read that the drug can potentially reduce addictive tendencies and compulsive behaviors like alcoholism, smoking, gambling, and so on.”
He claimed that there’s some evidence to show that these drugs can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and Alzheimer’s and improve mental health.
Trademarked as Ozempic, the drug is manufactured by Danish multi-billion pharma-behemoth Novo Nordisk.
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“I don’t know if all of these things are true, and it’s still early days. But even if half of what’s being reported is true, then this will be the closest thing we’ve seen to a miracle drug.”, added Kamath.
However, Kamath also touched on the slow rate of intake and expansion of this drug so far. According to him, not many people are taking them; even in the US, only about 6 per cent of the people are taking these drugs.
Could People Trade Less?
From there, Kamath spoke of the potential impact it could have on other avenues of life, and even the world of business.
He cited the instance of Walmart reporting a change in consumption patterns. “What would happen if more people started taking these drugs? We’ll have an across-the-board effect on every single industry.”, he questioned.
He further raised the realm where this could have an impact, and thinking out loud, he said, “People will eat less, smoke less, buy less, and live longer. They’ll also trade less? Insurance premiums have to change, and annuity payouts in pensions will have to be readjusted. What we don’t know is more than what we know about these drugs at this point. Also, the patents on the active ingredient in this drug is expiring in 2026, which means, cheaper generics will be available. Is the world ready for this?”
