The burden-loss jab Wegovy made its debut on June 4 2021. It was the primary new weight-loss drug to be permitted by the US Meals and Drug Administration since 2014.
There was lots of pleasure for the reason that launch. Not solely is the drug extraordinarily efficient (folks lose about 15 p.c of their physique weight in a yr), it additionally seems to have many advantages past simply weight reduction.
It is price noting that the drug (generic identify: semaglutide) was first used to deal with diabetes, and certainly remains to be a blockbuster diabetes drug. In order that’s two advantages already. Let us take a look at a few of the different potential advantages. Listed below are eight (and the listing is not exhaustive).
1. Knee osteoarthritis
Knee cartilage isn’t designed for prime stress masses. People who find themselves chubby or overweight are at the next danger of growing osteoarthritis due to the additional stress on their knee joints, with many individuals ultimately requiring knee-replacement surgical procedure.
A latest examine, revealed within the New England Journal of Medication, adopted a bunch of 407 overweight folks with knee osteoarthritis for 68 weeks. Among the group obtained semaglutide and a few a placebo. Each teams additionally obtained counselling on bodily exercise and a reduced-calorie weight-reduction plan.
The group that obtained semaglutide (versus a placebo), reported an enormous lower in ache from 71 to 42 factors on a regular ache scale (zero to 100, the place a bigger quantity equals extra ache). Additionally they reported better mobility. The identical was not skilled within the placebo group.
The explanations for the advance are in all probability because of the speedy weight reduction mixed with the anti-inflammatory properties of semaglutide. It is not clear, although, if semaglutide would have the identical impact on folks with knee osteoarthritis who aren’t overweight.
2. Fatty liver illness
About one in 4 folks, globally, has fatty liver illness – a long-lasting liver situation that may progresses to cirrhosis (liver scarring). Within the late levels, it may be deadly.
Preliminary medical trial knowledge has proven very promising outcomes with semaglutide, with a big discount in liver fats of 31 p.c. In one other medical examine, fatty liver was fully resolved in a 3rd of sufferers after simply 24 weeks.
The subsequent query is whether or not semaglutide can reverse the extra extreme types of fatty liver illness, the place scarring has begun. A number of research are underway to check this.
3. Parkinson’s
In research utilizing mind cells (neurons) in a Petri dish and in mouse fashions of Parkinson’s, semaglutide has been proven to have useful results on a number of “pathological hallmarks” of the neurological illness.
There’s even a touch that semaglutide may fit at slowing the worsening of Parkinson’s in people. A French examine, revealed earlier this yr, utilizing an identical drug (referred to as a GLP-1 receptor agonist), discovered that the motor expertise of individuals with early-stage Parkinson’s given the remedy confirmed virtually no worsening of signs in contrast with folks given a placebo.
We must watch for the outcomes of present trials to see if semaglutide has an identical impact.
4. Alzheimer’s
Semaglutide might present some safety in folks with Alzheimer’s as many individuals with the situation even have diabetes, suggesting that top glucose is concerned.
In mouse research and human organoid fashions of Alzheimer’s, semaglutide has been proven to cut back deposits of tau and amyloid (the 2 proteins that accumulate within the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s). And a latest “meta-analysis” of seven medical trials of individuals with sort 2 diabetes however undiagnosed Alzheimer’s, confirmed that over three years, 40 percent-70 p.c of sufferers on semaglutide had a decrease danger of an Alzheimer’s prognosis.
Provided that there are presently no cures for Alzheimer’s illness, prevention appears to be the best choice, particularly for these at increased danger of the illness (that’s, these with diabetes and weight problems).
5. Continual kidney illness
Continual kidney illness is irreversible, so managing the trigger is essential. The main reason behind kidney failure is diabetes, the place excessive glucose ranges injury the small blood vessels within the kidneys.
Two latest randomised medical trials finding out semaglutide for 3 to 5 years had been accomplished in 2024 and confirmed {that a} biomarker of kidney injury (microalbumin) was decrease in sufferers taking semaglutide. Sufferers within the semaglutide group additionally had a decrease danger of growing kidney failure (24 p.c) and a decrease danger of dying (20 p.c) over the examine interval.
6. Addictions
The GLP-1 system that semaglutide depends on for its results is thought to be concerned within the neurobiology of habit. Certainly, in research of mice fed alcohol, semaglutide lowered binge consuming within the rodents.
And preliminary knowledge in folks with alcohol use dysfunction given semaglutide or a placebo, discovered that these on semaglutide had “greater reductions in drinking quantity and heavy drinking” in contrast with these within the placebo group.
And a brand new examine from Sweden confirmed that folks with alcohol dependence had been a lot much less more likely to be hospitalised because of bodily sickness when utilizing semaglutide.
These research counsel semaglutide might present another remedy choice for folks with habit issues.
7. Coronary heart illness
As glucose-lowering medication equivalent to semaglutide decrease an individual’s cardiovascular danger by 14 p.c in folks with diabetes, using semaglutide has been studied in a spread of coronary heart illness situations.
A medical examine confirmed that sufferers with present heart problems who’re overweight or chubby, however with out diabetes, taking semaglutide for as much as 4 years confirmed decrease charges of coronary heart assault and stroke over a 3 and a half yr interval.
Additionally, in a examine of over 4,000 folks, weekly semaglutide considerably lowered coronary heart failure, clogged arteries and dying from any trigger, in contrast with a placebo. Because of these findings, the US Meals and Drug Administration permitted semaglutide to assist forestall life-threatening cardiovascular occasions in folks with present coronary heart illness who’re both chubby or overweight.
8. Lung issues
Due to semaglutide’s wider protecting properties, equivalent to its anti-inflammatory options, it has been studied in varied lung issues.
In a mouse mannequin of acute lung harm, the place unregulated irritation happens resulting in excessive dying charges, semaglutide lowered lung swelling, irritation, white blood cell infiltration and cell dying.
A big assessment of 28 medical research confirmed that semaglutide remedy led to an 18 p.c discount within the growth of respiratory illnesses.
A medical trial is underway to check the safety provided in sufferers with superior interstitial lung illness, which contains numerous lung issues (over 200) the place there may be injury to the tissues between the small air sacs within the lungs (alveoli) and the blood vessels round them, inflicting irritation and scarring (fibrosis).
Vinood B. Patel, Professor in Scientific Biochemistry, College of Westminster
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