讲解人 · 大仔
原文
The novel medications continue to push the upward limits of weight loss, now to almost 25 percent of body weight on average, but they also differ in their modes of action.
Obesity, after all, is not monolithic.
About 100 million adults live with obesity in just the U.S., a market massive enough for multiple medications to find a niche.
“One size will not fit all, “ said Richard DiMarchi, a chemist at Indiana University.
Ozempic functions by mimicking a single hormone called GLP-1; the drug’s mode of action is relatively simple but limited.
The second drug currently on the market, the tirzepatide found in Mounjaro and Zepbound, resembles GLP-1 in addition to another hormone called GIP, hitting receptors for both in the brain.
Even more intriguing than the top-line weight-loss numbers are metabolic changes unique to particular drugs.
Glucagon, for example, ramps up liver metabolism; drugs based on this hormone could help break down fat accumulated in the livers of patients who also have fatty-liver disease.
Meanwhile, GLP-1-based drugs appear to protect against cardiovascular disease, even independent of weight loss.
An extensive menu of obesity drugs that work via distinct biological mechanisms means that patients will have more options to try.
If they aren’t losing weight on drug A, they can move on to drug B or C.
Further down the line, experts say, they hope to have a test, such as a blood test, that can forecast how patients will fare.
带着问题听讲解
- 如何理解 niche 这个词？
- 根据文章，最新减肥药物的效果如何？
- 根据文章，不同的肥胖治疗药物能给患者带来什么？
讲解
重点词汇
quaint
/kweɪnt/
adj.（观点、信仰或行为方式）奇怪的，不合逻辑的，过时的；奇特、老派而有趣的
- 英文释义：attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned搭配短语：quaint country cottages例句："What a quaint idea!" she said, laughing at him.
slew
/sluː/
n. 大量，许多
- 相关词汇：slay搭配短语：a slew of sth.
obesity
/oʊˈbiː.sə.t̬i/
n. 肥胖
- 相关词汇：obese（adj. 肥胖的）
on the horizon
即将发生
- 相关词汇：horizon（n. 地平线）英文释义：likely to happen or exist soon
monolithic
/ˌmɑː.nəˈlɪθ.ɪk/
adj. 庞大而又无特色的
- 词根词缀：mono-（单一）=single
- 相关词汇：monologue
词根词缀：lith（石头）相关词汇：monolith（n. 独块的巨石；超大人造建筑）英文释义：too large, too regular, and unwilling or unable to be changed例句：The old company had a monolithic structure, where all decisions had to be approved by the top management.
niche
/nɪtʃ/
n. 缝隙市场，利基市场，细分；壁龛；合适的小环境，合适的职位
- 例句：He has made a niche for himself as a financial advisor.搭配短语：niche market
mimic
/ˈmɪm.ɪk/
v. 模仿
- 例句：She was secretly mimicking the team leaders in our office.词性拓展：mimic（n. 善于模仿的人）
- 例句：He is a mimic.
top-line
/ˈtɑːp.laɪn/
adj. 质量最好的，级别最高的
- 相关搭配：top line（营业收入）；bottome line（净利润）
metabolic
/met̬.əˈbɑː.lɪk/
adj. 新陈代谢的
- 相关词汇：metabolism词根词缀：meta-（变化；在……之后）
ramp up
扩大，增加，提高
- 相关词汇：ramp（n. 斜坡，辅路）近义词：increase搭配短语：to ramp up production例句：The news is expected to ramp up share prices.
cardiovascular
adj. 心血管的
- 词根词缀：cardio-（和心脏有关的）词根词缀：vascular（血管的）
down the line
未来
- 相关短语：down the road/track相关短语：in the future例句：Cars that drive themselves are in development now, but a marketable product is a long way down the line.
fare
/fer/
v. 进展如何，表现如何
- 词性拓展：fare（n. 车费，车票价）
- 例句：Train fares are going up again.
英文释义：to get along or manage in a specified way例句：How did you fare on your exam?例句：The team fared better/worse this year.近义词：perform
拓展阅读
- Medicare（联邦医疗保险）： 从 2026 年 4 月 1 日开始，一项试点计划将使 Zepbound 和 Wegovy 的肥胖适应症被纳入 Medicare D 部分覆盖范围，月费定价为 245 美元，患者自付费用上限为 50 美元。作为交换，用于糖尿病的 Mounjaro 和 Ozempic 价格也将降至 245 美元/月（此前高盛预估为 350 美元）。这移除了一个关键的增长限制。
- Medicaid（医疗补助计划）： Zepbound 和 Wegovy 的 Medicaid 价格同样为每月 245 美元，但具体覆盖范围由各州决定。目前已有 13 个州完全覆盖 GLP-1 类减肥药。
- DTC/现金支付： 价格也更具吸引力。例如，诺和诺德的 Wegovy 价格为 349 美元（起始剂量除外）；礼来的 Zepbound 多剂量笔起始价为 299 美元，后续剂量最高 449 美元；而备受期待的口服药 orforglipron 起始价仅为 149 美元，后续剂量最高 399 美元。
