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Weight-loss medications may also benefit common medical problem, study finds

Weight-loss medications may also benefit common medical problem, study finds

Yahoo19-05-2025
Weight-loss medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which have gained popularity for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, have been shown to have the surprising secondary benefit of reducing alcohol intake.
A team of international researchers from Ireland and Saudi Arabia followed 262 adult patients with obesity who started taking two GLP-1 medications: liraglutide or semaglutide.
Among the regular drinkers, weekly alcohol intake decreased by 68%, from approximately 23 units of alcohol to around 8 units.
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The findings were recently published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and were also presented last week at the European Congress on Obesity in Spain.
GLP-1 agonists mimic a hormone called GLP-1, which is released from the gastrointestinal system after eating, according to study co-author Carel Le Roux, a professor at University College Dublin.
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These medications activate GLP-1 receptors in the brain, decreasing the sense of "reward" people feel after eating or drinking, eventually leading to reduced cravings for both food and alcohol, he told Fox News Digital.
"It is this commonality of function that suggests the GLP-1 receptors in the brain may be a therapeutic target for not just the disease of obesity, but also for alcohol use disorder," the professor said.
Before the participants started the weight-loss drugs, they self-reported their weekly alcohol intake, then were categorized as non-drinkers, rare drinkers or regular drinkers.
Approximately 72% had at least two follow-up visits and 68% reported regular alcohol consumption.
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After starting the weight-loss medications, the participants' weekly average alcohol intake decreased by almost two-thirds overall — from approximately 11 units of alcohol to four units after four months of treatment with the GLP-1 agonists.
The reduction in alcohol use was comparable to the decrease that can be achieved by nalmefene, a drug that decreases the "buzz" feeling in people with alcohol use disorder in Europe, according to the researchers.
For the 188 patients who were followed over an average of four months, none had increased their alcohol intake after starting the weight-loss medications.
Patients reported that after an evening meal, they were too full to have their usual drink — and when they did drink, they reported becoming full extremely quickly and drinking at a slower pace, Le Roux noted.
This suggests that the experience was less enjoyable, partly due to the reduced rate of alcohol absorption.
Some patients also reported that they didn't enjoy the flavor of the alcoholic beverages as much, and also that hangovers were much worse.
All of these experiences showed that the weight-loss medications create "guard rails" that prevent most patients from drinking excessively, giving them a degree of control over their alcohol intake, according to Le Roux.
"The findings in this study suggest that we may have just found a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder — the GLP-1 receptor," the professor told Fox News Digital.
"This finding potentially opens the possibility of an entirely new pharmacological treatment paradigm, which could be used in conjunction with conventional methods, such as behavior therapy and group support."
The study was limited by its relatively small number of patients, the researchers acknowledged.
Also, the researchers were not able to verify the participants' self-reported alcohol intake, and roughly one-third of them were not available for follow-up.
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There was also no control group, which means the researchers couldn't prove that taking weight-loss medication reduces alcohol intake.
"Randomized, controlled trials with diverse patient populations — including patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder — are needed to provide the quality and quantity of data that could be used to support an application for licensing the medication for the treatment of alcohol use disorder," Le Roux said.
(One such trial is currently underway in Denmark.)
With the current medications available to treat alcohol use disorder, the "major problem" is compliance, Le Roux said — "because the cravings for alcohol tend to come in waves."
"This means a patient might be fully committed to treatment at one point in the week, but then stop taking the medication later in the week when a craving comes," the professor added.
There are currently three FDA-approved medications to treat alcohol use disorder: naltrexone (which helps decrease cravings by reducing the "buzz" feeling that comes with drinking alcohol); disulfiram (which helps some people avoid alcohol by making them feel sick when they drink), and acamprosate (which restores the balance of hormones in the brain to reduce cravings), according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
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But less than 10% of people with alcohol use disorder get the proper treatment, with many resuming use within the first year of treatment, past research shows.
The main advantage of the GLP-1 agonists is that they only need to be taken once a week and continue to work for the entire week.
Outside experts say the study's findings highlight the potential of weight-loss medications to help treat alcohol use disorder.
"This research suggests a promising ancillary benefit of GLP-1 analogs, potentially influencing cravings for alcohol and offering a new avenue for managing alcohol use disorder," Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who was not part of the study, told Fox News Digital.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
"While the exact mechanisms are still being explored, the findings contribute to our understanding of the broader benefits of GLP-1 analogs beyond obesity treatment," Stanford added.Original article source: Weight-loss medications may also benefit common medical problem, study finds
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More information about Gilead's recently announced strategic partnership agreement with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as updates on Gilead's access strategies in countries and regions around the world: See Gilead press release More information about the WHO's recently announced guidelines for the use of lenacapavir for PrEP: See Gilead company statement Lenacapavir for PrEP is not approved by any regulatory authority outside of the United States. There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS. About the PURPOSE Program Gilead's landmark PURPOSE program is the most comprehensive and diverse HIV prevention trial program ever conducted. The program comprises five HIV prevention trials around the world that are focused on innovation in science, trial design, community engagement and health equity. 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U.S. Indication for Yeztugo® Yeztugo (lenacapavir) injection, 463.5 mg/1.5 mL, is indicated for pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 in adults and adolescents (≥35kg) who are at risk for HIV-1 acquisition. Individuals must have a negative HIV-1 test prior to initiating Yeztugo. U.S. Important Safety Information for Yeztugo BOXED WARNING: RISK OF DRUG RESISTANCE WITH USE OF YEZTUGO IN UNDIAGNOSED HIV-1 INFECTION Contraindications Warnings and precautions Adverse reactions Drug interactions Dosage and administration About Gilead HIV For more than 35 years, Gilead has been a leading innovator in the field of HIV, driving advances in treatment, prevention and cure research. Gilead researchers have developed 13 HIV medications, including the first single-tablet regimen to treat HIV, the first antiretroviral for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help reduce new HIV infections, and the first long-acting injectable HIV treatment medication administered twice-yearly. Our advances in medical research have helped to transform HIV into a treatable, preventable, chronic condition for millions of people. Gilead is committed to continued scientific innovation to provide solutions for the evolving needs of people affected by HIV around the world. Through partnerships, collaborations and charitable giving, the company also aims to improve education, expand access and address barriers to care, with the goal of ending the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere. Gilead was recognized as one of the leading philanthropic funders of HIV-related programs in a report released by Funders Concerned About AIDS. About Gilead Sciences Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer and inflammation. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including Gilead's ability to initiate, progress and complete clinical trials in the anticipated timelines or at all, and the possibility of unfavorable results from ongoing and additional clinical trials, including those involving Yeztugo (lenacapavir) (such as PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2); uncertainties relating to regulatory applications and related filing and approval timelines, including regulatory applications for lenacapavir for PrEP, and the risk that any regulatory approvals, if granted, may be subject to significant limitations on use or subject to withdrawal or other adverse actions by the applicable regulatory authority; the possibility that Gilead may make a strategic decision to discontinue development of lenacapavir for indications currently under evaluation and, as a result, lenacapavir may never be successfully commercialized for such indications; Gilead's ability to effectively manage the access strategy relating to lenacapavir, subject to necessary regulatory approvals; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors are described in detail in Gilead's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation and disclaims any intent to update any such forward-looking statements. U.S. full Prescribing Information for Truvada and Yeztugo, including Boxed Warning, are available Truvada, Truvada for PrEP, Yeztugo, Yeytuo, Gilead and the Gilead logo are registered trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. For more information about Gilead, please visit the company's website follow Gilead on X/Twitter (@Gilead Sciences) and LinkedIn (@Gilead-Sciences). View source version on CONTACT: Ashleigh Koss, Media [email protected] Ross, Investors [email protected] KEYWORD: EUROPE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AIDS HEALTH INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITALS PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Gilead Sciences, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/25/2025 03:00 AM/DISC: 07/25/2025 03:01 AM

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