GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound are rapidly gaining sales and new indicationsas researchers learn more about how drugs affect the body beyond weight loss.
But one of the most anticipated studies examining how they affect Alzheimer's disease found no significant effect, Novo Nordisk said in its report. press release November 24
The company that makes semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes) said its drug did not provide any additional benefit over placebo in two studies in people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The company plans to release additional data at a presentation as part of its Alzheimer's disease clinical trial. conference in early December and at the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease conferences in March 2026.
The two-year study involved more than 3,800 people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, half of whom were randomly assigned to take semaglutide tablets every day and half of whom were given a placebo. The company said people treated with the drug did see improvements in some biological measures of Alzheimer's disease, but those changes did not translate into a slower progression of the disease, as measured by a standard test of several areas of cognitive ability, including memory, problem solving, communication and self-care. Experts are waiting for more detailed outcome data to understand whether improvements in disease markers could be early signs of potential benefit, especially when combined with other strategies such as behavior changes and currently available medications.
Read more: The high cost of using weight loss drugs to lose weight
The researchers were hopeful that weight-loss drugs might have an effect on Alzheimer's disease, since inflammation contributes to the neurodegenerative disease and the drugs appear to have anti-inflammatory effects. Studies in animal models, as well as observational studies of people taking the drug to treat diabetes or weight gain, have hinted that the drug may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
New treatments for Alzheimer's disease are needed as currently only two arelecanemab (from Eisai) and donationmab (from Lilly) – Address the root causes of Alzheimer's disease. Both work by targeting the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain and can slow disease progression by up to 30% in people with mild to moderate disease. “These results will help us refine our understanding of this class of drugs,” said Maria Carrillo, chief scientific officer and director of medical affairs for the Alzheimer's Association, in her report. statement. “Although this semaglutide tablet did not help against Alzheimer's disease, researchers will continue to study this class of drugs because they may work in different ways.”
Eli Lilly, which makes another drug in this class, tirzepatide, has not said whether it plans to study the effect of its product on Alzheimer's disease.
Novo Nordisk said it would stop planned year-long follow-up of trial participants.
