Ozempic is a drug given through an injection that is used to treat diabetes and obesity, but which could potentially fight cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Ozempic It is Wegovy are the trade names of the drug semaglutide. Many countries have approved Wegovy for the weight loss in obese or overweight people and Ozempic for people with type 2 diabetes. In recent times, especially Ozempic, has been highlighted for its potential.
Social media influencers began to pay attention to the drug, leading to a shortage of its supply. Ozempic was the medicine with the biggest increase in expenses in 2022, representing a cost for the National Health Service (SNS) of more than 27 million euros.
Semaglutide works in several ways, increasing the feeling of satiety. The drug affects insulin and glucagon secretion, which is why it is so effective against diabetes. It also reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A recent study even found that the drug restores the function of immune cells that attack cancerregardless of whether or not people lost weight with treatment.
“We are finally reaching a point where medical treatments for the disease of obesity are being shown to prevent the complications of obesity,” says endocrinologist and study co-author Donal O’Shea, quoted by the ScienceAlert.
The study only had the participation of 20 volunteers, which is why drawing conclusions may be hasty. The results were published in the scientific journal Obesity.
Other studies demonstrate the potential of this drug. For example, scientists have recently discovered that semaglutide can also prevent cognitive decline, preventing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Clinical trials to assess the ability of these drugs to combat cognitive decline are already underway, but the results are not expected before 2025write the Healthline.
“These medicines are very promising to delay or prevent the onset of cognitive decline in people at risk of contracting Alzheimer’s disease,” said David Merrill, director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Pacific Brain Health Center, in the United States.
Several scientists interviewed by Reuters pointed to the growing research supporting the testing of diabetes drugs against neurodegenerative diseases.
The results are years away and the success is uncertain. Still, the growing pile of scientific evidence points to the potential for drugs like Ozempic to not only treat obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes, but also to prevent other diseases.
Daniel Costa, ZAP // 
