Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide could also be effective against Alzheimer’s

A new study is adding to evidence that GLP-1 drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) semaglutide and Eli Lilly’s (LLY) tirzepatide could also be effective in tackling Alzheimer’s disease.

The study was a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records of ~1M type 2 diabetes patients with type 2 diabetes without an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Researchers compared time to a first Alzheimer’s diagnosis among patients who took semaglutide to seven other diabetes drugs. Semaglutide is marketed by Novo as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss.

Results, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, showed that semaglutide was associated with 40% to 70% reduced risks of first-time Alzheimer’s diagnosis in diabetes patients compared to other diabetes medicines, including other GLP-1s.

The other GLP-1s tested did not include tirzepatide, which is sold by Lilly as the diabetes med Mounjaro and the weight loss treatment Zepbound. They were older GLP-1s: albiglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, and lixisenatide.

Semaglutide was also linked to significantly lower Alzheimer’s-related medication prescriptions.

“Future research should explore [semaglutide’s] effects in mild cognitive impairment, other dementias, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as investigate other GLP-1RAs like tirzepatide and combination therapies with other antidiabetic medications,” the paper states.

The research was conducted by researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine without the involvement of Novo. However, the Danish pharma is investigating semaglutide in Alzheimer’s on its own with data from two phase 3 studies expected in 2025.

Results from a small study released in July showed that Novo’s older GLP-1 Victoza (liraglutide) can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.