Topline
Tesla leader Elon Musk dubbed himself “Ozempic Santa” in an X submit on Christmas Day, marking the tech billionaire’s newest display of make stronger for weight-loss medicine as he has driven for making them extra available to most people.
Musk printed the submit Wednesday. (Allison Robbert/Pool by means of AP)AFP or licensors
Key Details
Musk posted a photograph of himself dressed as Santa with out the vacation determine’s historically plump glance, captioning the submit, “Ozempic Santa.”
Musk elaborated in a follow-up submit he’s technically the use of the Eli Lilly weight-loss drug Mounjaro over Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, “however that doesn’t have the similar ring to it.”
The submit comes two weeks after Musk stated on X “not anything would do extra to make stronger the well being, lifespan and high quality of existence for American citizens” than making glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro “tremendous low price to the general public.”
GLP-1 drugs are regarded as prescribed drugs and will price American citizens round $1,000 per 30 days if they’re uninsured.
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What’s The Distinction Between Mounjaro And Ozempic?
Mounjaro and Ozempic can each lend a hand with weight reduction however are in particular designated to decrease blood sugar in adults with sort 2 diabetes. Then again, a find out about printed in peer-reviewed magazine JAMA Inner Drugs discovered Mounjaro customers completed “considerably better weight reduction” than sufferers the use of Ozempic. Ozempic has a slight edge in checklist value ($968) when in comparison to Mounjaro ($1,069).
What Different Celebrities Have Used Weight-Loss Medicine?
Celebrities who’ve publicly disclosed their use of weight-loss medicine come with Whoopi Goldberg, Charles Barkley, Oprah Winfrey and Tracy Morgan. Goldberg stated in an interview with Kelly Clarkson this yr she misplaced weight virtually identical to 2 folks, revealing Mounjaro helped her drop the burden.
Tangent
Regardless that some GLP-1 drugs have constructed a name for his or her effectiveness for weight reduction, analysis has additionally discovered the medication might supply different advantages, together with remedy of alcohol habit, most cancers, Alzheimer’s and COVID-19. Analysis has additionally discovered Ozempic might decrease opioid overdose possibility.
Key Background
Musk’s push for reasonably priced GLP-1 drugs comes as lawmakers on either side have sought expanded protection for weight reduction medicine. In June, The Space Techniques and Method Committee voted to boost a ban on weight-loss merchandise coated through Medicare for some sufferers. The committee was once spurred through a bipartisan Space effort that proposed expanded protection for sufferers with a prescription for multiple yr. President Joe Biden, who will quickly concede his place to President-Elect Donald Trump, proposed Medicare and Medicaid protection for weight-loss medicine like Ozempic. The proposal would designate weight problems as a illness which may be handled through the drugs, which means Medicare may just give you the medicine after traditionally being barred from overlaying them below the Medicare Modernization Act. It’s unclear how, or if, Trump would problem the Biden coverage whether it is installed position subsequent month.
Additional Studying
Weight-Loss Medicine Like Ozempic Would Be Lined Through Medicare And Medicaid Beneath Biden Plan (Forbes)
Ozempic, Wegovy Related To Decrease Hospitalizations In Alcohol Addicts, Analysis Presentations (Forbes)
