aprott/iStock via Getty Images A new peer-reviewed study based on historical U.S. medical data has linked Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide with improved brain health compared to older diabetes medications.
The research published in The Lancet journal, eClinicalMedicine on Thursday adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting a wide range of clinical benefits of the drug, which competes with tirzepatide, a similar product from Eli Lilly ( LLY ). Semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, is also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiac events such as stroke in overweight or obese adults. Citing electronic health records representing more than 100M U.
S. patients, researchers noted that semaglutide is not associated with a higher risk of neurological and psychiatric issues compared to oral diabetes drugs sitagliptin, empagliflozin, and glipizide. Instead, the weekly injectable reduced the risk of several such outcomes, including dementia and nicotine misuse.
The study was run by the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, an organization partnered with the University of Oxford. Sitagliptin, empagliflozin, and glipizide are non-GLP-1 drugs marketed by Merck ( MRK ), Eli Lilly ( LLY )/ Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer ( PFE ) as Januvia, Jardiance, and Glucotrol, respectively, for diabetes. While the study based on historical data was not powered to statistically validate the results, the researchers said that their findings would lead to further clinical studies.
Novo ( NVO ) is advancing two pivotal trials, evoke and evoke+, for semaglutide in Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia. The Phase 3 trials, conducted globally, are expected to generate data in 2025. More on Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk: Buy On Dips Novo Nordisk Breaks Out To An All-Time High On China Approval Of Wegovy Novo Nordisk: Leading The Fight Against Diabetes And Obesity Novo Nordisk once-weekly insulin rejected by FDA Most patients discontinue Novo’s Wegovy, Ozempic within two years: report.
