Text | Foodaily Daily Food Giselle Yin, Rachel He
Text | Foodaily Daily Food Giselle Yin, Rachel He
It is well known that the weight loss market has always been a hot market.
Therefore, whether it is the approval of the oral Novo Nordisk semaglutide tablets for market launch or the approval of semaglutide’s indication for weight management in June this year, both have triggered significant attention and media coverage.
However, upon closer inspection, the effects of semaglutide and other GLP-1 drugs on blood sugar reduction and weight loss, as well as their oral administration, are still limited to medical use. They are only approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes to control blood sugar and for overweight and obesity patients (with an initial BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater, or between 27 kg/m² and 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related comorbidity). There is no official claim that they can be used in food, nor are they recommended for general weight loss needs.
Some believe that the hot sales of weight loss drugs could affect people’s eating habits, which in turn would impact food consumption, bringing a certain degree of blow to the food industry.
Neil Saunders, a manager in retail at data analysis and consulting company GlobalData, once pointed out, “GLP-1 drugs may cause a ‘disruptive’ impact on food manufacturers.”
In overseas markets, there have been reports stating that the stock prices of international giants like Pepsi and Nestlé have dropped as a result, and Walmart’s food sales have also seen changes…
Nonetheless, many groups with weight loss needs have expressed their anticipation for the quick and effective weight loss results offered by semaglutide, thus they are willing to try the “weight loss miracle drug.”
Amid the public’s fervent demand, many believe that GLP-1 drugs, represented by semaglutide, will generate new food consumption needs, bringing new opportunities.
In summary, positive and negative comments are continuously debated.
Foodaily observes that, under the immense attention, many friends in the food industry are still watching how to ride this trend and which new business opportunities are worth pursuing.
Through research on domestic and international markets, we have summarized the layout directions of companies such as Weikang, TCI Dajiang Biotechnology, Nestlé, Herbalife, and GNC, introducing readers to noteworthy new business opportunities from the perspectives of new ingredients and new tracks.
01 New Ingredients: Can Oral “Semaglutide-like” Products Be Safe, Effective, and Food-Grade?
1. Nausea, headaches, weight rebound… The side effects of the “weight loss miracle drug” are discouraging onlookers.
Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic drug for type 2 diabetes and a weight-loss medication used for long-term weight management, belonging to the class of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
Its mechanism of action mimics the effect of the naturally occurring GLP-1 in the human body, increasing insulin secretion, thereby controlling blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.
At the same time, clinical practice has found that it also slows gastric emptying, increases satiety, and suppresses appetite, hence it can play a role in weight loss.
The outstanding weight loss effects have drawn a lot of attention to whether GLP-1 drugs, represented by semaglutide, have opportunities for use in food or dietary supplements.
Currently, the main controversies hindering the widespread application of such weight management ingredients revolve around two aspects.
First is the application qualification issue mentioned at the beginning of the article.
Foodaily learned from some users who have used semaglutide that currently, it requires a doctor’s prescription to purchase semaglutide through formal channels in pharmacies and hospitals.
Overseas, in markets such as Japan and South Korea, we have also seen instances where people are injecting
