by Dr Kieran Le Plastrier
It’s rare in medicine to witness a single class of drugs redefine the boundaries of treatment across multiple chronic diseases.
Yet that’s precisely what we’re seeing with GLP-1 receptor agonists – commonly known by brand names including Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Initially developed as a treatment for diabetes, these drugs are proving to be nothing short of transformative for millions of people worldwide.
But while their potential is vast, our access to them remains frustratingly narrow.
There’s a common misconception that these drugs are only a tool for weight loss and diabetes management.
But that’s far from the limit of their potential.
These medications are showing promise in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, liver disease, and even dementia.
They’re also being explored as tools to combat addiction – blunting the brain’s reward system and helping people overcome dependencies on alcohol, nicotine, and other substances.
We are standing at the edge of a paradigm shift in how we treat chronic disease.
Yet in Australia, access to these drugs is largely restricted to people with uncontrolled diabetes at a subsidised cost under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
While they can be prescribed off-label for other conditions, such as obesity, without the PBS subsidy the cost can be anything from $55 to $130 a dose, which most people simply can’t afford.
Obesity is not a personal moral failing. It is a complex, multi-factorial condition driven by genetics, environment, and a society that promotes sedentary lifestyles and calorie-dense foods.
We live in an obesogenic world, and blaming individuals for their biology is both unjust and ineffective.
The UK’s NHS has already recognised this, moving to subsidise GLP-1 drugs for people with obesity to reduce long-term disease burden.
Australia must follow suit. The cost of inaction – measured in heart attacks, strokes, hospital admissions, and lives lost – is far greater than the cost of these medications.
Now, these drugs are not a silver bullet. They work best as part of a holistic approach that includes dietary support, physical activity, and psychological care.
And as for every powerful therapeutic drug, risks exist and must be carefully considered and managed under the care of expert health practitioner.
But they offer something we’ve never had before: a safer, effective, and scalable way to intervene in the metabolic cascade that underpins so many of our modern diseases.
We need to stop treating these drugs as luxury items for the wealthy or as quick fixes for vanity.
They are powerful tools for prevention and healing.
It’s time our health system caught up with the science.
* Dr Kieran Le Plastrier is a GP and Assistant Professor of General Practice at Bond University.