Leaders | The everything drugs

It’s not just obesity. Drugs like Ozempic will change the world

As they become cheaper, they promise to improve billions of lives

Confetti exploding out of syringe
image: Carl Godfrey/Getty Images

Every day seems to bring more exciting news. First the drugs tackled diabetes. Then, with just an injection a week, they took on obesity. Now they are being found to treat cardiovascular and kidney disease, and are being tested for Alzheimer’s and addiction. It is early days yet, but glp-1 receptor agonists have all the makings of one of the most successful classes of drugs in history. As they become cheaper and easier to use, they promise to dramatically improve the lives of more than a billion people—with profound consequences for industry, the economy and society.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The everything drugs ”

From the October 26th 2024 edition

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