Recent research suggests that weight-loss medications like Ozempic, produced by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, may significantly decrease opioid and alcohol dependency rates by as much as 50%. This finding highlights the potential of these medications to offer benefits beyond merely managing weight and diabetes.
The study, published in the scientific journal Addiction, examined data from over 500,000 individuals with histories of either opioid use disorder (OUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The findings revealed that patients taking GLP-1 and GIP medications experienced a 40% reduction in OUD rates and a 50% decrease in AUD rates. Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, along with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, work by mimicking the effects of the gut hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite. Mounjaro additionally targets another hormone, GIP.
Approved in the U.S. and Europe for treating diabetes and obesity, these medications have gained immense popularity, resulting in shortages. According to the study authors, the prescriptions are linked to reduced instances of opioid overdoses and alcohol intoxication among individuals with OUD and AUD.
The protective benefits of these drugs were found to be consistent across various demographic groups, including those with coexisting Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
This development comes at a time when substance abuse rates are surging in the United States. In 2021, drug overdose fatalities reached 107,000, a staggering increase from the 18,000 reported in 1999. Opioids accounted for over 75% of these deaths in 2021, a trend that has intensified since the introduction of OxyContin by Purdue Pharma in 1996, which was aggressively marketed, making the company and the Sackler family notorious figures in the ongoing crisis.
The researchers emphasized the need for effective treatments for substance use disorders (SUD) like OUD and AUD, which are increasingly prevalent and harmful to public health.
Additionally, GLP-1 medications have shown promise in addressing other health issues. For example, liraglutide, another GLP-1 drug from Novo Nordisk, marketed as Victoza and Saxenda, has been found to potentially slow cognitive decline in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 18% after one year of treatment compared to a placebo, according to research from Imperial College London presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia.
In April, Eli Lilly announced that two late-stage trials assessing a 10 mg or 15 mg injection of Zepbound, aimed at weight loss, demonstrated up to a two-thirds reduction in sleep apnea severity among adults with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea.
Further studies are exploring additional applications for these medications, including treatment for fatty liver disease, kidney disease, and heart disease.
On Thursday, Novo Nordisk’s U.S.-traded shares rose by 0.6%, showing a 16% increase year-to-date, while Eli Lilly’s stock also increased by 0.6%, with a remarkable 58% gain this year. In contrast, the S&P 500 has risen by 22%.
