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Novo Nordisk A/S. (NYSE:NVO) has found that its “miracle” weight loss drug used for diabetes, Ozempic, is linked to a significant reduction in the risk of dementia and other cognitive issues.
What Happened: A study conducted at the University of Oxford revealed that patients who used Ozempic had a 48% lower risk of dementia compared to those who used an older drug, sitagliptin. The study also showed a lower risk of cognitive deficits in comparison to patients who had taken either sitagliptin or glipizide, another older medicine, reported Bloomberg on Friday.
Patients on Ozempic also had a 28% lower risk of smoking than those who were on glipizide. These findings have raised expectations about the potential ancillary benefits of the drug.
The study is part of a series of trials that have shown potential benefits beyond diabetes control and weight loss for semaglutide, the main ingredient in both Ozempic and Novo’s obesity medicine Wegovy.
Most of the other benefits are linked to weight loss, but scientists are also exploring whether the medicine can help treat alcoholism by reducing the urge to drink.
The Oxford trial did not randomly assign patients to take Ozempic or other drugs. Instead, it utilized medical records from over 100,000 U.S. patients and employed statistical methods to ensure precise and accurate comparisons.
John Wilding, a professor of medicine at the University of Liverpool who independently reviewed the study, commented via the nonprofit Science Media Centre that further research will be necessary “to definitively determine whether semaglutide offers benefits in reducing cognitive dysfunction or influencing smoking rates in people with diabetes.”
Why It Matters: This study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that Ozempic may have significant benefits beyond its primary function as a diabetes drug. This comes at a time when the drug is under scrutiny for its high prices in the U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has expressed confidence that Novo Nordisk can be persuaded to reduce the U.S. prices of Ozempic and Wegovy, the company’s popular drugs.
However, the drug’s long-term adherence rate has been called into question, with only 25% of patients continuing treatment after two years. This study’s findings may help to counteract these concerns and strengthen the drug’s position in the market.
Moreover, a recent study has identified a potential link between Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, and a serious eye condition known as nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can lead to vision loss. This has raised concerns about the safety of these drugs.
On the competition front, Eli Lilly And Co.’s (NYSE:LLY) Mounjaro has outperformed Ozempic in a weight loss drug competition, raising questions about the effectiveness of Novo Nordisk’s drug
Price Action: Novo Nordisk closed at $139.79 on Thursday, down 2.07%. In pre-market trading, the stock is up 1.28%. Year to date, Novo Nordisk has seen a significant increase of 36.90%, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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Image Via Pixabay
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote
