Evidence from large US study of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly drugs
Recent advancements in diabetes and weight loss medications have revealed a spectrum of health benefits, leading to the FDA’s approval of Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide for heart disease and Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide for sleep apnoea. As these pharmaceutical companies continue to explore the broader therapeutic potential of these drugs, an observational study from Washington University in St. Louis, US has provided further insights into their benefits and associated risks.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study highlights that these metabolism-altering treatments may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and substance abuse disorders, while potentially increasing the risk of digestive issues and arthritis. The comprehensive research, which examined 175 health categories, identified 42 potential benefits and 19 possible adverse effects linked to the use of these medications.
The study utilised health records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, encompassing 215,970 diabetes patients on the new drugs, compared to 2.4 million patients on other diabetes treatments. This extensive analysis represents the largest study of its kind, covering Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 treatments (Ozempic and Wegovy) and Eli Lilly’s dual-action GLP-1/GIP agonists (Mounjaro and Zepbound).
Dr Ziyad Al-Aly, the study’s lead investigator and a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University, emphasised the dual nature of these findings. While acknowledging the beneficial effects, he also cautioned about the inherent risks.
Specifically, the study found that the use of these diabetes and obesity drugs reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurocognitive disorders by 12%. However, Dr Al-Aly noted that this figure might be an underestimation, given the study’s relatively short duration of 3.5 years, compared to the prolonged development period of Alzheimer’s symptoms.
The study found that the use of these diabetes and obesity drugs reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s and other neurocognitive disorders by 12%. However, Dr Al-Aly noted that this figure might be an underestimation, given the study’s relatively
Additionally, the study linked these medications to a decrease in the use of alcohol, opioids, tobacco, and marijuana, and a reduction in the incidence of schizophrenia episodes and seizures. Other observed benefits included lower rates of heart attacks, strokes, blood clotting, liver cancer, kidney disease, bacterial infections, pneumonia, and Parkinson’s disease.
Conversely, the research indicated an increased risk of joint pain, pancreatitis, hypotension, fainting, headaches, kidney stones, and various digestive issues, such as nausea, gastritis, diverticulitis, and haemorrhoids. Dr Al-Aly underscored the importance of mapping these associations to create a comprehensive atlas, which will guide future studies focusing on specific diseases and population subgroups.
The study also revealed seemingly contradictory findings, such as an increased risk of kidney stones alongside a decreased risk of kidney disease. This paradox highlights the complexity of the drug effects and underscores the need for further investigation.
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