A class of diabetes and weight loss drugs that includes Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro could also help protect against a variety of cancers,
according to new research published Friday, adding to mounting evidence the injections offer numerous additional health benefits as pressure builds for insurers and public health providers to cover the popular medication in spite of persistent shortages and cost concerns.
Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists, a class of drugs often known as GLP-1s or GLP-1RAs, were associated with a “significant risk reduction” for 10 different cancers when used to treat type 2 diabetes compared to insulin, according to new research published in JAMA Oncology.
The findings come from an analysis of the electronic health records of 1.7 million U.S. patients over 15 years who were prescribed GLP-1RAs, insulins or metformin for type 2 diabetes — all help control blood sugar — between 2005 to 2018, though it did not specify which drugs were examined.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic the action of a gut hormone and can help control blood sugar, include popular obesity and diabetes treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy (brand names for semaglutide), Mounjaro and Zepbound (or tirzepatide), Victoza and Saxenda (liraglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide).
