This year, the popularity of the diabetes and weight-loss drug semaglutide has surged. You’ve likely seen ads on social media or heard about top-selling brands like Ozempic and Wegovy, or read stories of people microdosing these drugs. Semaglutide and its relatives mimic the gut hormone GLP-1. While this drug family isn’t new, its recent applications have sparked significant interest.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an early version of semaglutide for diabetes nearly 20 years ago, and another, liraglutide, for weight loss a decade later. Endocrinologist Daniel Drucker of the University of Toronto notes that liraglutide’s approval was pivotal, as it demonstrated these drugs might have uses beyond glucose control. In recent years, clinical trials have shown semaglutide and its newer relatives can help people lose significant weight safely, a rarity in obesity therapeutics.

Historically, obesity treatments were plagued with safety concerns. For instance, the drug regimen fen-phen caused heart valve issues and was withdrawn from the market. GLP-1 drugs, however, show promise beyond weight loss. They may aid in treating heart, kidney, and liver diseases, among others. Some studies suggest semaglutide could curb addiction and inflammation, and clinical trials are underway to test its neuroprotective effects in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients.

The FDA has already approved tirzepatide, which mimics two gut hormones, and more powerful medications are on the horizon. Science News spoke with experts including Drucker, Lorenzo Leggio of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Glenn Gaesser of Arizona State University, and Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade of the Mayo Clinic to understand the future of this field.

Drucker highlights the SELECT trial, which showed a 20% reduction in heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths, and a 19% reduction in all-cause mortality. Leggio notes the potential of these drugs in treating addiction, though more research is needed. Hurtado Andrade discusses the benefits of tirzepatide on metabolic liver dysfunction and sleep apnea, while Gaesser emphasizes the importance of exercise alongside these medications.

While the safety of GLP-1 drugs is well-established, with side effects mainly involving nausea and diarrhea, the introduction of multi-hormone drugs raises new safety questions. Experts agree that more research is needed to understand the full spectrum of benefits and potential risks, especially as these drugs are tested in diverse populations and for various conditions.

The future of GLP-1 drugs is promising, with ongoing trials exploring their effects on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and addiction. As more data emerges, the medical community aims to ensure these medications are used safely and effectively, addressing some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.

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