Title: Promising Results from Early Studies Show Weight Loss Drug Wegovy’s Potential in Treating Dementia and Addiction
Promising findings from early studies have sparked interest among researchers who are exploring whether popular weight loss medications like Wegovy could potentially be used to treat neurological conditions such as dementia and addiction. Investigators have started clinical trials to further investigate these possibilities, backed by encouraging early data.
Christian Hendershot, director of the clinical and translational addiction research program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is one of the researchers leading the charge. Hendershot is examining whether the appetite-controlling mechanisms employed by weight loss therapies can effectively address neurological disorders including alcohol and drug addiction.
Novo Nordisk (NVO), the maker of Wegovy, previously revealed the drug’s cardiovascular benefits in August. A Phase 3 trial showcased a significant 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events among obese or overweight adults who took the GLP1 agonist. Building upon years of preclinical data highlighting the impact of GLP1s on alcohol and drug intake in animals, Hendershot is currently investigating whether Novo’s diabetes medicine Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, can yield similar outcomes in human subjects. He anticipates releasing preliminary data from the trial in 2024.
Meanwhile, Kyle Simmons, a pharmacology and physiology professor at Oklahoma State University, is leading a Phase 2 trial studying the effects of semaglutide in individuals with alcohol use disorder. The 12-week placebo-controlled study, known as Semaglutide Therapy for Alcohol Reduction (STAR), is being conducted alongside a similar trial at the University of Baltimore. Simmons emphasizes the potential impact of positive results from both studies, highlighting the significant advancements they would facilitate within the field.
In addition to addiction, researchers are also exploring the potential of semaglutide to address dementia. A trial at the University of Oxford seeks to determine if the drug can lead to a decline in tau accumulation and brain inflammation in individuals at risk of developing dementia. Senior researcher Ivan Koychev, who is leading the trial, explains that the objective is to evaluate if these drugs can effectively interfere with the core pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.
As these clinical studies progress, researchers remain cautiously optimistic about the potential of weight loss medications like Wegovy to treat neurological conditions beyond their primary indications. The promising early data has paved the way for further investigation, offering hope for new therapeutic options in the future.
