Drugs are rarely famous, and even more rarely superstars, but with his ability to grab headlines, Ozempic is the Taylor Swift of pharmaceuticals. So what exactly is behind that star power? Even as the drug and its derivatives become more widespread, researchers are racing to figure out how they work.
“We’re seeing an incredible number of benefits,” says Stephen Dayan of the University of Illinois. “It’s early days, but these drugs look like they’re going to change not only medicine, but the entire economy.”
Because most drugs treat only one or two symptoms, “cures” that promise to address all ailments are usually met with skepticism and suspicion. Ozempic seems to be bucking that trend. Wegovy, the version of Ozempic approved for weight loss last year, was shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by almost 20%. The appearance of “Ozempic pregnancy” suggested fertility benefits. People started noticing its positive effects on depression and anxiety. In May, results showed it also lowered the risk of kidney failure and death in people with diabetes during the three-year trial. In July, another version of the drug was found to reduce brain atrophy and slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients.
Wegovy and other weight loss drugs are widely promoted in the US
Richard Levin/Alamy
Why this drug is effective against so many conditions is still a mystery, but researchers are beginning to unravel the mechanisms underlying its extraordinary abilities. Understanding everything from its impact on reward circuits in the brain to its impact on inflammation…
(Tag translation) Cancer
