All articles tagged with #glp 1
Some people with eating disorders are using GLP-1 receptor agonists to suppress appetite, prompting alarm from doctors who warn of safety risks and potential to mask underlying conditions; experts call for careful screening and caution around off-label use.
Scientists at Helmholtz Munich created a hybrid 'Trojan horse' drug that uses GLP-1R/GIPR signaling as an entry door and carries lanifibranor to activate PPARα/γ/δ inside cells, hitting five targets. In diet-induced obese mice, it reduced appetite, produced greater weight loss, and improved blood glucose versus reference therapies, with GI side effects similar to current incretin medicines. The approach is preclinical; whether results translate to humans remains to be seen and will require clinical development.
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound can aid weight loss but commonly cause side effects ranging from GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, constipation/diarrhea) to dehydration, pancreatitis, gallstones, gastroparesis, and dental issues. Doctors advise staying hydrated, prioritizing protein, maintaining strength training, and timing meals (avoid eating 3–4 hours before bed), while reporting persistent or severe symptoms. Long-term risks are still unknown, so these drugs should be used under medical guidance for those who meet criteria.
A new study suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists, drugs commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, may reduce the risk of cancer spread in certain cancers, a finding that could point to drug repurposing but requires further research to confirm which cancers might benefit and to establish clinical relevance.
New findings from the Cleveland Clinic, presented at the ASCO meeting, suggest GLP-1 medications may be linked to reduced metastatic progression in several obesity-related cancers (notably non-small cell lung, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers) when compared with DPP-4 inhibitors. The study is observational and not peer‑reviewed, and it does not prove GLP-1s kill cancer cells or should be used for cancer prevention. Researchers caution that more rigorous, randomized trials are needed before changing cancer treatment guidelines.
A FAERS-based analysis of over 30 million adverse-event reports suggests Wegovy has the strongest association with ischemic optic neuropathy among semaglutide drugs, with higher signals in men and at higher Wegovy doses. While cases are rare and causation isn’t proven, researchers call for urgent prospective studies as GLP-1 obesity drugs become more widely used.
The Washington Post reports that some people with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder are using GLP-1 weight-loss medications, prompting alarm from doctors about safety and the need for careful monitoring of vulnerable patients, as anecdotal stories highlight the risk and complexity of treating eating disorders with these drugs.
Eli Lilly's retatrutide, a weekly triple hormone receptor agonist (GLP-1, GIP, glucagon), produced an average 28.3% weight loss (70.3 lb) over 80 weeks at the 12 mg dose in a Phase 3 trial of 2,339 adults with obesity or overweight and a weight-related comorbidity. The 12 mg group lost more weight than the 9 mg and 4 mg groups, with 65.3% reaching a BMI below 30 and 37.5% starting with BMI ≥40; 45.3% achieved at least 30% weight loss. Retatrutide’s weight loss appears to exceed current drugs Wegovy and Zepbound. The drug, which combines GLP-1 and GIP with glucagon, also improved cardio-metabolic risk factors, though side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting increased with dose.
New observational studies suggest GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro may slow cancer progression, lower recurrence, and improve breast-cancer survival, a finding that could bolster Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s valuations as leaders in obesity/diabetes therapies.
An observational analysis of over 10,000 cancer patients who started GLP-1 drugs after diagnosis found slower progression in four of seven cancers, with the strongest effects in lung and breast cancer, compared with a matched group on DPP-4 inhibitors. The study is not peer‑reviewed and cannot prove causation; randomized trials are needed to confirm any anti‑cancer effects. Researchers discuss possible mechanisms, including tumor GLP-1 receptor interactions, interference with glycolysis, and immune modulation, and conclude GLP-1 drugs appear safe for patients with cancer using them for diabetes or obesity, though they are not a cancer therapy.
Lilly reports that retatrutide, a triple agonist of GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, produced up to about 85 pounds (roughly 30% of body weight) loss in a phase 3 trial of ~2,300 people with obesity or overweight, with the highest weekly dose averaging 28% weight loss over 80 weeks (some participants continued to 104 weeks). If approved, it could surpass current GLP-1 meds and aid patients who don’t respond to those drugs. Side effects include nausea, GI issues, skin sensations, and UTIs. Full results haven’t been published in a medical journal, and an FDA filing could occur as early as this year.
Orforglipron, a once-daily small-molecule pill that targets the GLP-1 system and has FDA approval for obesity, may help people keep most of their weight loss after stopping injections like Wegovy or Mounjaro. In a randomized trial, those who switched to orforglipron regained about 26% of lost weight (vs over 50% on placebo) after 52 weeks, with more than two-fifths maintaining at least 80% of their weight loss and improved health markers such as blood sugar, blood pressure, insulin and cholesterol. The pill could be cheaper and easier to store than peptide injections, but it is not yet licensed in the UK for weight loss, and US monthly costs are roughly $149–$299.
Orforglipron, a once-daily pill-based GLP-1 weight‑loss drug, could sustain weight loss and cut costs versus injections like Wegovy and Mounjaro. In a small trial, switching to orforglipron after initial weight loss reduced weight regain markedly (about 26% with orforglipron vs 50%+ on placebo for Mounjaro; about 21% vs 62% for Wegovy) while preserving health benefits; US monthly price is roughly $149–$299 vs over $1,000 for Mounjaro, and the UK has not yet licensed it but expects approval around late 2026–early 2027.
Pharma is racing to commercialize next-generation obesity drugs as pivotal readouts approach from Lilly, Viking Therapeutics, and Pfizer; Lilly’s retatrutide shows potentially stronger weight loss and knee-pain relief in Triumph-4, Viking is testing maintenance dosing for VK2735, and Pfizer’s PF’3944 posted encouraging phase 2b results for monthly maintenance injections, signaling a crowded path to a multi-billion GLP-1 market by 2030.
A BuzzFeed News piece compiles Reddit anecdotes about stopping GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) and notes a BMJ meta-analysis finding that people who stop weight loss meds regain weight about four times as fast as those leaving behavioral programs, typically returning to baseline in about 1.7 years. The responses span a spectrum: hunger and food cravings return; some report hair loss or energy dips; many regain weight, but others credit lasting lifestyle changes like mindful eating, calorie tracking, and regular exercise for maintaining weight or easing off gradually. The piece highlights ongoing questions about whether GLP-1s are a temporary boost or a long term tool, and invites more personal experiences.