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Medical News Today
5 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss may also help control asthma
Researchers based in the United Kingdom recently examined how GLP-1 agonist drugs impact asthma in people with taking GLP-1 medications had better-controlled asthma overall, though there was no difference in lung function compared to those not taking study suggests that GLP-1 drugs may have anti-inflammatory effects that benefit the lungs. Healthcare providers often prescribe GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) or liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda) for type 2 diabetes control and weight loss. As these medications increase in popularity, researchers are looking into other ways these drugs can be useful. Recent research shows that GLP-1 medications may reduce obesity-related cancer risk and may lower dementia from the University of Aberdeen and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute in the United Kingdom recently examined how these medications impact asthma control in people with obesity. They found that people taking GLP-1 medications had better-controlled asthma findings are published in the journal Advances in how GLP-1 drugs impact asthmaGLP-1 receptor agonists are a type of medication that mimic the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 to help regulate blood sugar, increase insulin secretion, reduce gastric emptying, and increase appetite satiety. These medications treat type 2 diabetes and assist in weight loss in people who are either overweight or have obesity. GLP-1s have shown anti-inflammatory effects, and since an inflammatory response triggers asthma, researchers in the current study wanted to see what effects these medications have on people with obesity and asthma. The study examined around 60,000 people, including more than 10,000 people with both obesity and asthma taking GLP-1 drugs and around 50,000 matched controls. The researchers used data from the Optimum Patient Care Research order to qualify for inclusion in the study, the participants needed to have had an asthma consultation in the 12 months before starting the GLP-1 medication. They also had to be at least 18 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, which indicates obesity. Each participant in the GLP-1 group was matched 5:1 with participants who had similar characteristics but had not taken GLP-1 medications. People on GLP-1 drugs had marked asthma improvementThe researchers used an average of 3 years of follow-up data to determine how well people with asthma who were on GLP-1 medications did compared to people in the matched group. They used the participants' baseline risk domain asthma control (RDAC) and overall asthma control (OAC) scores and compared these to scores taken during follow-up. While the GLP-1 group had a higher average BMI and worse asthma control before starting the GLP-1 drugs, they had 'significant' improvements in their asthma scores after being on the GLP-1 medication for a GLP-1 group did not differ much from the matched group at the end of the study in terms of lung function. The authors point to missing data due to the COVID-19 pandemic on this measurement.'Obese asthmatics are unique in that they are often steroid-resistant, and it is possible that mechanistic differences in obese asthmatics and weight loss with GLP1 may have pleomorphic effects on inflammation beyond just weight loss,' the study authors the study findings demonstrate that GLP-1 medications have the potential to positively impact asthma in people with obesity. Further research is needed, though, especially to determine whether these medications can one day be used to treat respiratory issues. Experts disagree on whether GLP-1 contributes to asthma controlJimmy Johannes, MD, pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, spoke with Medical News Today about the study.'This study further supports the link between weight loss, in this case with GLP-1 drugs, and improved asthma control,' said Johannes. 'It also raises the possibility that GLP-1 drugs may be helpful for the treatment of asthma.'Johannes discussed the mechanism by which the GLP-1 drugs improved asthma and noted that there are GLP-1 receptors in the lungs. 'GLP-1 receptor agonists may be able to directly reduce the inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness that contribute to asthma,' Johannes explained. Thomas Kilkenny, DO, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary & Critical Care at Northwell's Staten Island University Hospital, also spoke with MNT about the did not think the study adequately demonstrated that GLP-1 medications were responsible for the improved asthma control and suggested that the improvements could be related to weight loss. Is it GLP-1s or weight loss?'It has been shown multiple times in the past, and various studies show that weight loss alone improves asthma control. This study did not comment on whether the GLP-1 medication had a direct effect on the physiology of asthma control.'— Thomas Kilkenny, DOKilkenny explained that weight loss alone improves asthma control for several reasons, including 'a decrease in the low-grade inflammation that is associated with obesity.'
Medscape
09-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Can Orforglipron ACHIEVE the Unattainable?
First reports from the ACHIEVE-1 randomized controlled trial were presented during the American Diabetes Association 85th Scientific Sessions in Chicago and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine. ACHIEVE-1 explored the efficacy and safety of orforglipron in early T2D. As a general practitioner with a role in treating diabetes, I have been delighted to witness the evolution of the GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) such as orforglipron. This journey began with the discovery of exendin-4 in the mid-1990s in the venom of the Gila monster. Exendin-4 is structurally like human GLP-1 and stimulates insulin production in the body. This finding led to the development of twice-daily injectable exenatide and its approval in 2005. It also enabled the development of injectable human GLP-1 analogs such as liraglutide, dulaglutide, and semaglutide. I was an early advocate of GLP-1 RAs, given their potent glucose-lowering efficacy, secondary benefits of significant weight reduction, and low associated risk for hypoglycemia (if not used alongside sulfonylureas or insulin). During 2016, the LEADER study, the first cardiovascular outcomes trial (CVOT) of a GLP-1 RA, was published. It demonstrated a significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) with liraglutide. Significant reductions in MACE were also subsequently demonstrated with semaglutide during 2016 (SUSTAIN-6 CVOT) and with dulaglutide during 2019 (REWIND CVOT). These studies drove a change in guidelines globally and positioned these GLP-1 RAs as preferred therapeutic options for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and comorbid atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). During 2019, oral semaglutide was approved by the FDA as the first (and still only) commercially available oral GLP-1 RA to improve glycemic control in adults with T2D. Notably, the manufacture of oral semaglutide is an expensive, complex, and technically demanding process, since it must prevent the degradation of semaglutide within the acidic gastric environment. During March 2025, the SOUL CVOT (also presented at ADA 2025) demonstrated a significant reduction in MACE with oral semaglutide in patients with T2D, ASCVD, or chronic kidney disease. Again, I was an early adopter of oral semaglutide, and it has been great for my patients with T2D to have the option of taking a noninjectable GLP-1 RA. But it is not without its drawbacks: Oral semaglutide must be taken on an empty stomach at least 30 min before any other food, drink, or medication and with no more than 120 mL of water to maximize absorption and bioavailability. These requirements made it challenging for many of my patients to fit it into their work-life schedules. A role for GLP-1 RAs in weight loss has emerged alongside their role in T2D. During 2014, liraglutide 3 mg was approved for weight management based on the SCALE studies. During 2021, semaglutide 2.4 mg was similarly approved for weight management, based on the STEP trial program. In 2023, the SELECT trial became the first GLP-1 RA CVOT (using semaglutide 2.4 mg) to demonstrate a significant reduction in MACE in patients with preexisting CVD and overweight or obesity but without T2D. This trial led to a new CV indication to be added to the semaglutide label during 2024. Finally, since 2022, once-weekly injectable tirzepatide (a dual GLP1-glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide RA) has been available as a therapeutic option for patients with overweight and obesity with and without T2D, based on the SURPASS and SURMOUNT trials. Over the past 18 months, we have seen a slew of comorbidity trials published for injectable semaglutide 2.4 mg and tirzepatide, demonstrating improvements in comorbidities including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, obstructive sleep apnea, and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease. Orforglipron is a small-molecule, nonpeptide oral GLP-1 RA and the next stage in the evolution of the GLP-1 RA class. Nonpeptide GLP-1 RAs have the potential to provide higher oral bioavailability with no food or water restrictions and therefore simpler administration. Nonpeptide GLP-1 RAs also have a simple manufacturing process. Notably, during April 2025, Pfizer discontinued development of danuglipron (another oral, small-molecule GLP1 RA) because of concerns regarding liver toxicity. ACHIEVE recruited 559 patients with T2D who were treated only with diet and exercise or had been off other oral or injectable glucose-lowering medications for at least 3 months. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three doses of orforglipron (3 mg, 12 mg, or 36 mg) or placebo for 40 weeks. Mean duration of T2D was 4.4 years, mean HbA1c at baseline was 8%, and mean body weight at baseline was 90.2 kg. About 48% of the participants were women, and 38.3% had previously received a glucose-lowering agent (most commonly metformin). The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c at week 40. A key secondary endpoint was percent change in body weight at week 40. Orforglipron was associated with significant, dose-dependent, and clinically meaningful reductions in HbA1c (-1.24%, -1.47%, and -1.48% for the 3, 12, and 36 mg doses, respectively) compared with placebo (-0.41%). Mean HbA1c at week 40 was 6.5%-6.7% with orforglipron. 68%-73% of individuals on orforglipron achieved an HbA1c < 7%; 57%-62% of individuals achieved an HbA1c < 6.5%; and 17%-24% of individuals achieved an HbA1c < 5.7% (ie, below US criteria for prediabetes). Glycemic improvement was seen at as early as 4 weeks. Mean change in weight with orforglipron was -4.5% with the 3 mg dose, -5.8% with the 12 mg dose, and -7.6% with the 36 mg dose. Mean change in weight in the placebo group was -1.7%. 43%-61% of participants on orforglipron achieved a clinically meaningful weight loss of ≥ 5%; 15%-30% of participants lost ≥ 10% of their body weight; and 4%-10% of participants lost ≥ 15% of their body weight. The researchers also observed improvements in other cardiometabolic markers, including lipids, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure. The safety profile was consistent with that of the GLP-1 RA class as a whole; the most common adverse effects were gastrointestinal side effects that were mild to moderate and mostly occurred during dose escalation. The prevalence of gastrointestinal side effects generally decreased over time. No episodes of severe hypoglycemia or cases of pancreatitis occurred. There was no adverse liver signal seen in ACHIEVE-1. In fact, mean alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels decreased during the trial. Discontinuation rates with orforglipron were also similar to those of the class. Whilst direct comparisons are unfair, since there are no published head-to-head trials, ACHIEVE-1 delivers results comparable to those of the similarly designed semaglutide 1 mg monotherapy study SUSTAIN-1. In conclusion, ACHIEVE-1 positions orforglipron as an efficacious oral GLP-1 RA with a favorable safety profile that could scale globally for the treatment of early T2D and weight management. This option could help reduce health inequalities, especially in low-income countries where factors like affordability, availability, and accessibility hinder the delivery of disease-modifying therapies for T2D. Orforglipron may also drive a change in treatment paradigms and be considered as a first-line therapy for patients with early T2D and overweight or obesity. Further orforglipron studies awaiting completion include comparisons to dapagliflozin (ACHIEVE-2) and oral semaglutide (ACHIEVE-3), as well as ATTAIN, which will assess orforglipron for weight management in patients without T2D.
Health Line
07-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Ozempic-Like Drug Liraglutide Slashes Migraine Days In Half, Study Finds
An Ozempic-like drug prescribed for diabetes has been found to reduce the frequency of debilitating migraine. Researchers say liraglutide might help migraine frequency and severity by reducing intracranial pressure. While promising, it's too soon to say whether liraglutide will become a migraine treatment. For millions of people with migraine, finding effective relief can be a frustrating journey marked by trial and error with various therapies. Hope may be on the horizon, however, according to a new pilot study published on June 17 in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. This discovery may lead to a novel treatment approach that targets underlying brain pressure mechanisms rather than just managing symptoms. The research suggests that liraglutide, a drug originally developed for diabetes (Victoza) and weight management (Saxenda), may significantly reduce the frequency of debilitating migraine. Intriguingly, this benefit appears to come independently of weight loss. Liraglutide reduces migraine frequency, severity The study authors note that migraine is a widespread neurological disorder affecting about 14.7% of the global population, often causing severe disability and impacting quality of life. However, while many treatments exist, a significant number of people continue to experience frequent attacks that don't respond to medication. This new study aimed to explore whether liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), could be an effective add-on therapy for people with high-frequency or chronic migraine who haven't responded to at least two conventional preventive treatments. The study took place in Naples, Italy, between January and July 2024. Researchers enrolled 31 adults with obesity with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 experiencing high-frequency episodic or chronic migraine (at least eight headache days per month). The subjects were also unresponsive to at least two preventive therapies, including standard care and anti-CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) monoclonal antibodies. Those with clinical signs suggestive of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, such as papilledema or sixth nerve palsy, were excluded to focus on migraine without overt intracranial hypertension. Participants received daily subcutaneous injections of liraglutide, starting at 0.6 milligrams in the first week and increasing to 1.2 mg thereafter, while continuing their existing preventive treatments. Over 12 weeks, patients maintained headache diaries to record monthly headache days (MHDs) and completed the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) to evaluate migraine-related disability. BMI was measured at baseline and after 12 weeks to assess weight changes. After 12 weeks, the mean monthly headache days decreased from 19.8 to 10.7, an average reduction of 9.1 days — a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement. Nearly half of the participants (48%) experienced at least a 50% reduction in headache frequency, and 23% achieved a 75% or greater reduction. One person reported complete resolution of headaches. The MIDAS score, reflecting migraine-related disability, also dropped significantly from 60.4 to 28.6, indicating substantial improvements in daily functioning. BMI showed only a slight, non-significant reduction from 34.0 to 33.9. Statistical analysis confirmed that the decrease in headache frequency was independent of weight loss. Furthermore, age, sex, and concurrent medications did not influence the treatment response, suggesting liraglutide's migraine benefits are robust across these variables. Adverse events were mild and primarily gastrointestinal, such as nausea and constipation, occurring in 42% of participants. Importantly, no patients discontinued treatment due to side effects, and these symptoms resolved spontaneously. These findings offer preliminary clinical evidence that liraglutide can effectively reduce migraine frequency and disability in patients with obesity and refractory migraine, potentially through mechanisms related to intracranial pressure regulation and CGRP modulation rather than weight loss alone. This represents a novel therapeutic avenue distinct from current migraine preventives that largely focus on blocking CGRP's effects rather than preventing its release. While promising, the study did have limitations, including its open-label design, small sample size, lack of a control group, and relatively short follow-up. How liraglutide could help treat migraine The rationale behind this research stemmed from emerging evidence linking increased intracranial pressure (ICP) to migraine mechanisms. Chronic migraine and idiopathic intracranial hypertension without papilledema (IIHWOP) — a condition characterized by raised ICP without the typical eye swelling — share many clinical features and risk factors, such as obesity and female sex. Both conditions also show elevated levels of CGRP, a molecule known to play a key role in migraine pain pathways. Notably, common migraine preventives like topiramate reduce ICP, suggesting that controlling ICP might be an effective migraine treatment strategy. GLP-1RAs, including liraglutide, have been shown in animal models to reduce ICP by inhibiting the activity in the choroid plexus of an enzyme called the sodium-potassium pump. The choroid plexus is the brain region responsible for cerebrospinal fluid secretion. This mechanism reduces fluid buildup and pressure inside the skull. Additionally, these drugs have been demonstrated to decrease CGRP expression and central nervous system sensitization related to migraine. These promising preclinical findings were what led the researchers to test liraglutide's effects in a clinical migraine population. However, Peter Soh, MD, MPH, medical director at Soh Headache Center, LLC, who did not take part in the study, clarified that we don't yet know exactly how GLP-1RAs might reduce migraine frequency. '[I]n the population studied, several important variables — such as intracranial pressure — were not measured,' Soh told Healthline. 'Without further data, it's a little early to suggest a mechanism of action in this specific context,' he noted. Migraine treatment is personal Liraglutide could one day emerge as a valuable addition to the migraine treatment arsenal, particularly for those with difficult-to-treat migraine, offering hope for more effective and targeted relief beyond current options. However, liraglutide as a migraine treatment would have to first undergo more rigorous studies and clinical trials. Stewart Parnacott, PhD, CRNA, MBA, chief clinical officer at Ready Wellness and author of ' Too Young to Feel This Old,' said better research is still needed before doctors can recommend liraglutide as a migraine treatment. Parnacott wasn't involved in the study. 'We don't know how long the benefits last. We don't know if the same results happen with other GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide,' he told Healthline. 'And I'm not suggesting anyone start Saxenda just to treat their migraine, at least not yet.' If you're experiencing frequent migraine, effective interventions can be highly personal. Soh advised working with a healthcare professional or fellowship-trained headache specialist to optimize your treatment plan. This may include assessing your lifestyle habits and using a headache journal to track your response to therapies. 'Don't underestimate the impact of food, sleep, stress, hydration, hormones, and blood sugar swings,' Parnacott added. 'I've had patients cut their migraine days in half just by making small changes they didn't think would matter.'
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ozempic-Like Drugs Could Treat Chronic Migraines, Trial Finds
Medications sold under brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda have become famous for their weight-loss benefits, but that only scratches the surface of what these injections are potentially capable of. Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 agonists have also shown unforeseen benefits to heart, brain, liver, and kidney health – and now, it seems, the head, alleviating migraines in a new study. In a pilot trial of 31 patients with high BMI and frequent or chronic migraines, participants who received a daily injection of the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide experienced significantly fewer painful headaches. After 12 weeks, the number of days with a migraine each month decreased from a mean of 19.8 days to just 10.7 days – a reduction of nearly half. Related: Weight loss, age, sex, and the use of other medications at the same time did not significantly alter the results. "Our findings show that liraglutide may be effective in the treatment of unresponsive high-frequency or chronic migraine in patients with obesity, and that this effect is independent from weight loss," conclude the authors, who hail from the University of Naples in Italy. "This suggests… that the mechanisms driving liraglutide's effectiveness in migraine prevention may operate independently of the significant metabolic effects… " Further studies with larger cohorts and a control group are needed to verify that hypothesis. But GLP-1 agonists, like liraglutide and possibly even its longer-lasting relative semaglutide, may prove to be a promising route for future migraine treatments. Migraines impact an estimated 14 to 15 percent of the global population, and yet the few medications we have on hand do not work for everybody. "A substantial number of patients still face an unmet need, especially when preventive drugs prove ineffective," writes a team of scientists led by neurologist Simone Braca. Participants in the current pilot trial had migraines unresponsive to other treatments, meaning liraglutide worked where other drugs had not. GLP-1 agonists slow appetite and help regulate blood sugar by mimicking a natural hormone in the body, called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is released after eating. That's why these drugs are so effective when it comes to managing type 2 diabetes and weight gain. But GLP-1 receptors exist throughout the body, in many different tissues and organs. The fact that liraglutide and similar medications have widespread effects outside of the pancreas makes logical sense. Still, scientists are trying to figure out what those effects are, and whether they help or harm. In recent years, studies have shown liraglutide and other GLP-1 agonists can greatly reduce intracranial pressure in the brain – a speculative trigger for migraines. In animal models, these drugs have also suppressed migraines with great effectiveness. The current pilot trial is only small and it did not investigate the mechanisms behind liraglutide's migraine relief, nor did it directly measure intracranial pressure among participants. Nevertheless, Braca and her colleagues suspect that reduced pressure in the skull is playing a role in migraine reduction. In recent animal studies, GLP-1 agonists reduced fluid in the central nervous system, thereby lowering intracranial pressure. "These findings provide a foundation for larger-scale trials aimed at further investigating the role of GLP-1R agonists in migraine management," Braca and her team conclude. The study was published in Headache. Gut Bacteria Found to Soak Up Toxic Forever Chemicals Gene Therapy Can Restore Hearing in Adults, First-of-Its-Kind Trial Shows Cheese May Actually Fuel Nightmares, Surprising Study Confirms
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Popular weight-loss drugs show promising new power against debilitating migraines
Beyond diabetes control and weight management, GLP-1s could have yet another benefit: helping with migraines. In a small study, a GLP-1 drug shrank the number of days people spent with a migraine by almost half in a given month. Presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress in Helinski, Finland, on June 21, the results suggest promising future uses of the popular obesity and diabetes drugs. Who Should Be Taking Weight-loss Drugs? Doctors Share Best Candidates Nearly 40 million Americans deal with migraines, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) — and for many, they're more than just a headache. Migraines are the second-leading cause of disability worldwide, the above agency states, with symptoms including severe headaches, nausea and sensitivity to light often disrupting daily activities. Read On The Fox News App Previous studies have shown that GLP-1s can reduce pressure inside the skull, which is a possible cause of migraines, according to multiple health organizations. Neurologist and study lead Simone Braca of the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, along with his colleagues, explored whether liraglutide, an earlier version of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), could help migraine sufferers. Thirty-one adults, 26 of them women, got daily injections of liraglutide for 12 weeks. The participants, who all met the criteria for obesity, also continued to take their current migraine medications. At the start of the experiment, participants reported headaches about 20 days out of a month. After 12 weeks of liraglutide, the average number dropped to about 11 days. "Most patients felt better within the first two weeks and reported quality of life improved significantly," said Braca in a press release for the study, which was published in the journal Headache last month. The relief from migraines lasted for the full three-month observation period, the researcher noted, although weight loss was "modest and statistically non-significant." Participants' weight stayed about the same during the trial, suggesting that the headache reductions weren't tied to weight loss. Weight-loss Medications May Also Benefit Common Medical Problem, Study Finds "Liraglutide is a 'middle-aged' GLP-1, with Ozempic and Mounjaro being newer," Dr. Sue Decotiis, a triple board-certified weight loss specialist in New York City, told Fox News Digital. Decotiis, who was not involved in the study, said that liraglutide is not as effective as its newer cousins for weight loss or diabetes, and is not frequently used for these purposes. "Many pharmacies are not even stocking it due to declining demand, yet it gets into the brain well enough to reduce migraines," she noted. The trial didn't include a comparison group, and participants and researchers all knew that everyone received liraglutide, the researchers noted. Mild gastrointestinal side effects (mainly nausea and constipation) occurred in 38% of participants, but did not lead to treatment discontinuation. Further research may include other groups, such as control groups and people without obesity, to compare the drug's effects. "The study was very small," Decotiis confirmed to Fox News Digital. Given its size and brief duration, the findings could be limited until further research is conducted, according to the expert. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter The researchers also tested only one drug, liraglutide, "which is not used as frequently in the general population as semaglutide or tirzepatide are," Decotiis added. For more Health articles, visit Next, the team is planning a randomized, double-blind trial that will also measure pressure inside the skull. "We also want to determine whether other GLP-1 drugs can deliver the same relief, possibly with even fewer gastrointestinal side effects," Braca said in the same press article source: Popular weight-loss drugs show promising new power against debilitating migraines
