Weight-loss drugs could soon be used to treat other major diseases
Image: David J. Phillip/AP
By now, it’s been clearly established that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are highly effective at both helping people lose weight and treating Type 2 diabetes.
But there’s also mounting scientific evidence that GLP-1s can provide benefits for a wide range of other serious medical conditions.
- Heart disease: Earlier this year, the FDA approved Wegovy for treating heart disease in patients who also have obesity. Additionally, Eli Lilly last week published results from a Phase 3 trial in which Mounjaro greatly reduced the risk of heart failure in obese patients.
- Addiction: An NIH-backed study published last year found use of semaglutide (the generic name for Ozempic) was linked to lower binge-like alcohol drinking in mice. Separate research published last month also found evidence semaglutide can potentially help people quit smoking.
- Neurodegenerative diseases: Novo Nordisk is currently conducting a Phase 3 trial to see whether semaglutide has a positive effect on early Alzheimer’s disease. A separate Phase 2 trial published last year found Sanofi’s GLP-1 drug lixisenatide was linked to slower progression of Parkinson’s disease.
Zoom out: In recent years, GLP-1 drug usage has exploded in the US. An estimated 1 in 8 American adults have tried a GLP-1 drug to date, with US demand for prescriptions rising 300% between 2020-2023.
But… The sharp spike in demand has also spawned a growing black market of illegal knock-offs, which are ineffective and/or dangerous for patients.
- Around 42% of online pharmacies selling semaglutide in the US are operating without a valid license and selling medications without prescriptions, making them illegal, according to a study published last week in JAMA Network Open.
📊 Flash poll: Have you personally ever tried a GLP-1 drug? (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, etc.)
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles embracing GLP-1 drugs
- Some commentators argue that the mounting research showing benefits of GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss and diabetes highlights the need for wider discussion about how these drugs are paid for and prescribed.
- Others contend that the seemingly overwhelming evidence that GLP-1 drugs are effective should prompt Medicare and other insurers to expand their coverage to include these vital treatments.
- “Can Ozempic Treat Your Depression? Early Signs Point to Yes” –Lisa Jarvis, Bloomberg
- “I see patients every day who need Ozempic and can’t get it” –Jody Dushay, CNN
- “For Obese Patients, Wegovy Is Worth the Cost” –Govind Persad and Ezekiel J. Emanuel, WSJ
Sprinkles hesitant of GLP-1 drugs
- Some commentators argue that while GLP-1 drugs appear effective at treating many conditions, they do little or nothing to address the root causes of these problems, and could end up causing policymakers to ignore attempts at solutions.
- Others contend that before Americans go all in on using GLP-1 drugs, they should educate themselves about the answers – or lack thereof – surrounding their safety and efficacy over the long term.
- “Weight-loss drugs aren't a magic bullet. Lifestyle changes are key to lasting health” –Lisa Doggett, NPR
- “Three big unknowns about popular weight-loss drugs” –Leana S. Wen, WaPo
- “Ozempic Can’t Fix What Our Culture Has Broken” –Tressie McMillan Cottom, NY Times
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