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

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition
Friedrich Merz speaks during a press conference on planned major investments, in Berlin, Germany on March 4th 2025

A fantastic start for Friedrich Merz

The incoming chancellor signals massive increases in defence and infrastructure spending

A Team Dover Airman loads weapons cargo bound for Ukraine onto a C-17 Globemaster III during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware

The lesson from Trump’s Ukrainian weapons freeze

And the grim choice facing Volodymyr Zelensky


Ukrainian President Zelensky Visits Downing Street Ahead Of European Leaders Summit

Western leaders must seize the moment to make Europe safe

As they meet in London, Vladimir Putin will sense weakness


Prabowo Subianto takes a chainsaw to Indonesia’s budget

The result? More money for the president’s boondoggles

Inheriting is becoming nearly as important as working

More wealth means more money for baby-boomers to pass on. That is dangerous for capitalism and society