The FDA has just approved Ozempic for treating kidney disease
We keep finding more uses for semaglutide, which makes it all the more important that we rein in its cost. We saw last week that Medicare has put Ozempic and other semaglutide products on its list for the next round of price negotiations, to be wrapped up in 2026 regardless of the current maladministration’s meddling. The new prices would then go into effect in 2027.
The Ozempic debate: Large study reveals the good and the bad
Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and other drugs often used for weight loss may help lower the risk of a wide range of health conditions, from diabetes to Alzheimer’s, according to a new study, but they also may come with risks like pancreatitis and stomach paralysis.
The large observational study, published Monday in Nature Medicine, is the first of its kind to map the risks and benefits of drugs like Ozempic across 175 potential health outcomes, according to the authors.
These health outcomes ranged from psychotic disorders, seizures and dementia to gastrointestinal disorders, hypotension and arthritis.
Mapping the effectiveness and risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists
We used a discovery approach to systematically map an atlas of the associations of GLP-1RA use versus each comparator with 175 health outcomes. Compared to usual care, GLP-1RA use was associated with a reduced risk of substance use and psychotic disorders, seizures, neurocognitive disorders (including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia), coagulation disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, infectious illnesses and several respiratory conditions. There was an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders, hypotension, syncope [fainting], arthritic disorders, nephrolithiasis, interstitial nephritis and drug-induced pancreatitis associated with GLP-1RA use compared to usual care. The results provide insights into the benefits and risks of GLP-1RAs and may be useful for informing clinical care and guiding research agendas. [emphasis added]
Stat+ [paywalled]:
Ozempic linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s diagnosis in observational study
Novo Nordisk’s drug Ozempic was linked to a lower risk of getting diagnosed with Alzheimer’s among people with type 2 diabetes, an analysis of medical records found, supporting the case for further research of the blockbuster GLP-1 drug in neurodegenerative diseases.
Among the over 1 million people with diabetes whose records were included in the study, the overall risk of developing Alzheimer’s was already very low. But researchers found that semaglutide, the scientific name of Ozempic, was associated with a 40% to 70% lower risk of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis over three years compared with other diabetes treatments such as insulin, metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, and older GLP-1 drugs.
Stat+ [paywalled]: Study links Ozempic to higher risk of eye condition that can cause vision loss
A new observational study [last year] reported for the first time a potential link between Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drugs Ozempic and Wegovy and an eye condition that can cause vision loss.
After hearing anecdotes of patients on the diabetes and obesity drugs experiencing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear analyzed data from a registry of patients at their institution to see if there was a broad trend.
FDA Approves Ozempic to Reduce Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes
The FDA has approved Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (semaglutide) to reduce the risk of kidney disease worsening, kidney failure, and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Chronic kidney disease affects about 37 million adults in the United States and is expected to rise. It is a common complication of type 2 diabetes, with approximately 40% of people with type 2 diabetes also experiencing CKD.
Could diabetes drugs like Ozempic be a treatment for Parkinson’s?
GLP-1 receptor agonists along with certain other diabetes medications have shown potential in reducing the risk of developing Parkinson’s in people with diabetes. These drugs mimic the action of a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
However, it is not known whether GLP-1 receptor agonists drugs may benefit people with Parkinson’s who don’t have diabetes.