New treatment for obesity now available in Kuwait
32.1% of adults in Kuwait obese, 72.7% overweight
KUWAIT: Novo Nordisk held a press conference yesterday attended by the Danish Ambassador to Kuwait Oleemil Moesby to launch Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg), the first oncedaily glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management in Kuwait. Treated alongside a healthy diet and continued exercise, the new entrant has proven greater improvements in weight loss, including certain cardio metabolic risk factors, and severity of sleep apnoea
According to World Health Organization, around 72.7 percent of adults in Kuwait are currently overweight and 32.1 percent are living with obesity. Many of these people suffer from weight-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, along with emotional distress and anxiety often associated with this disease.
“It is an extremely interesting day to be present at the conference and it is a reflection of excellent relations between Denmark and Kuwait,” Moesby said, adding there have been many discussions since he arrived around two months ago about joint opportunities between Kuwait and Denmark. There are several Danish companies active in Kuwait - some for decades - yet there are more opportunities and additional ways of cooperation between the two nations.
Dr Maryam Al-Dwairji, MD, PhD, Specialist in Clinical Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, commented on the new breakthrough in obesity management in Kuwait: “In the light of the economic, social and behavioral shifts that are taking place in our communities and which has been overshadowed by the negative effects on their health that have contributed in spreading various chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These diseases can be prevented through proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Our aim is to provide the best possible healthcare to the general public across the country and to emphasize the important of medical and surgical interventions in obesity management in the line with healthy lifestyle.”
Dr Khalil Alshowaiekr, MRCP, obesity and weight disorders specialist at Adan Hospital, said: “Identified by leading international health organizations like WHO, AACE & AMA as a chronic disease requiring long-term management, obesity represents a serious public health issue in Kuwait. Unfortunately very few people with obesity receive weight counseling. Current options available to obese or overweight patients with co-morbidity are limited or include invasive alternatives. Simultaneously, obesity poses a significant burden on the country’s finances, whereby WHO estimates that 0.7 percent 2.8 percent of a country’s total healthcare expenditure is spent on obesity-related illness. Saxenda, coupled with a stringent diet and physical activities, is possibly the start to help patients achieve clinically meaningful weight loss.”
Dr Amna Shaghouli, MD, FRCPC, Consultant Endocrinologist at Adan Hospital and Glycemia Clinic in Kuwait, said:” Owing to the need for efficient weight loss solutions in the region, Saxenda provides a simple and effective treatment that is administered once daily via a subcutaneous injection to increase the feeling of satiety and reduce hunger, thereby decreasing food intake. The clinical trial programs were overwhelmingly positive as Saxenda achieved superior weight loss results wherein one out of four patients treated with Saxenda lost more than 10 percent of their body weight and sustained it! Additionally, tests provided significant reductions in blood pressure, lipids, delay in the onset of type 2 diabetes and improvement in sleep apnoea.”
Saxenda was evaluated in the SCALE (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity Liraglutide Evidence) in Nondiabetic and Diabetic individuals phase 3 clinical program, which involved more than 5,000 people who have obesity or who are overweight with weight-related comorbidities. Trial data showed that Saxenda, in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, resulted in significantly greater weight loss in some patients than a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity alone.
“Following the earlier launches of Saxenda in the region, Novo Nordisk is pleased to offer a new treatment option in Kuwait that can help many anxious people achieve clinically meaningful weight loss and avoid obesity-related comorbidities. We have established a 10 year long-term ambition to pursue leadership in the anti-obesity medication market which includes improvement and raising awareness of the unmet needs in obesity care as well as build a pipeline of other, innovative therapeutic options. There are several clinical barriers to proper treatment such as broken communication with health care providers, lack of knowledge among practitioners, limited success of medical options and insufficient reimbursements. With the right mix of experience, expertise and delivery of intelligent treatment options, we are determined to collaborate with Kuwait’s obesity community, government and other relevant entities in tackling a nationwide epidemic,” said Dr Akin Aksekili, General Manager Novo Nordisk Gulf Emerging Markets.
It is important that people living with obesity work closely with their physicians to develop sustainable strategies for chronic weight management. When assessing treatment options, a person’s readiness to lose weight should be considered along with their cardiovascular disease profile, dietary habits and concomitant diseases.