Ozempic has become a household name as a highly successful GLP-1 drug. The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drug class is a class of type 2 diabetes drugs that improve blood pressure and were found to also lead to impressive weight loss results. Of course, weight loss can vary depending on which GLP-1 drug is used and the size of the dose.
Last week, Ozempic was shown to slow the worsening of kidney dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes while also lowering the risk of kidney failure, heart problems, stroke, and death, in detailed results from a late-stage trial that was presented on Friday, May 24, 2024. In March, the diabetes drug known chemically as semaglutide was shown to cut the combined risk of kidney complications and cardiovascular events by 24% over the next 3.4 years in patients who received weekly 1-milligram injections compared with patients who just received a placebo.
Participants who received semaglutide were also found to be 29% less likely to die from heart attacks and other major cardiovascular incidents. These patients were also 20% less likely to die from any cause during the trial period. “The links between kidney disease and heart disease are really profound,” said Samir Parikh, a nephrologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
The trial results are a very positive sign for Ozempic and other GLP-1s that are fighting for space in this highly competitive environment. It also demonstrates that the utility of these drugs goes far beyond vanity, and have the potential to substantively extend life going forward.
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