Australian researchers have discovered a cheaper and faster way to produce the key ingredient in the popular weight loss drug Ozempic. The injectable drug is used to treat diabetes and aid weight loss as it suppresses the appetite while also boosting insulin levels. The compound – Semaglutide – mimics a hormone released after eating that triggers the feeling of fullness. But Semaglutide is difficult and expensive to make leading to global supply shortages amid its soaring popularity. Now, scientists from the Florey Institute at the University of Melbourne have developed their own version of the compound which they claim is easier and less costly to manufacture. A history of Aussie medical innovation “We came up with a new synthetic method that has fewer steps and we can make it quicker and cheaper,” researcher Professor Akhter Hossain told 9News. “This is very exciting.” Although the home-grown compound is not yet ready for commercialisation it marks a major breakthrough in the potential easing of global supply shortages.
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