Ozempic, Wegovy Reduced Risk of These 10 Cancers

Ozempic, Wegovy Reduced Risk of These 10 Cancers

New research published in the journal of the American Medical Association has found evidence that the use of semaglutide medications, like Ozempic and Wegovy, may help reduce the risk of obesity-associated cancers in people with type 2 diabetes.

Cancer Risk Reduction

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According to the study, people with type 2 diabetes who take semaglutide medications have a decreased risk of developing certain forms of cancer. The researchers studied 13 cancers linked to obesity and found that those taking semaglutide had less risk of developing 10 of these obesity-associated cancers.

Cancer Types

The cancers that showed a reduced risk of development in people taking semaglutide medications include:

• Esophageal cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Gallbladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Ovarian cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Meningioma
• Multiple myeloma

Findings

The study found that people taking semaglutide medications had a:

• 65% reduced risk of gallbladder cancer
• 63% reduced risk of meningioma
• 59% reduced risk of pancreatic cancer
• 53% reduced risk of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
• 48% reduced risk of ovarian cancer
• 46% reduced risk of colorectal cancer
• 41% reduced risk of multiple myeloma
• 40% reduced risk of esophageal cancer
• 26% reduced risk of endometrial cancer
• 24% reduced risk of kidney cancer

Expert Insights

Yoni Resnick, PharmD, director of pharmacy clinical services with New England Cancer Specialists, says that the findings are encouraging. "It’s exciting to see that, there might be… some smoke as it relates to these medications, potentially reducing the risk of some cancers that have historically been statistically related to obesity," Resnick said.

Jennie Stanford, MD, an obesity medicine physician for InteliHealth, says that the study’s findings are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding the benefits of GLP-1 drugs. "I think we’re at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding the benefits of the GLP-1 receptor agonists," Stanford said. "As we learn more and more about what they’re able to do, I think we’ll be able to see possibilities for using them in dementia, in obesity-associated cancers and other medical problems that are linked back to the same underlying mechanism."

Conclusion

The study’s findings provide promising evidence that semaglutide medications may help reduce the risk of obesity-associated cancers in people with type 2 diabetes. While more research is needed to confirm these findings, the results are a significant step forward in understanding the potential benefits of these medications.

FAQs

Q: What are semaglutide medications?
A: Semaglutide medications are GLP-1 receptor agonists used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Q: How do semaglutide medications reduce cancer risk?
A: The exact mechanisms are not fully understood, but it’s believed that semaglutide medications may help reduce cancer risk by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation.

Q: Are the findings of this study conclusive?
A: No, the study’s findings are encouraging but more research is needed to confirm these results.

Q: Can semaglutide medications be used to treat cancer directly?
A: No, semaglutide medications are not approved for cancer treatment, but they may be used to reduce cancer risk in people with type 2 diabetes.

Q: What are the potential benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists in cancer treatment?
A: GLP-1 receptor agonists may be useful in treating obesity-associated cancers and potentially other medical problems linked to insulin resistance and inflammation.