Popular Obesity Drugs For Dementia, Addiction Treatment? Researchers Explore Potential

Scientists are now exploring the potential of popular obesity drugs to address conditions like dementia and alcohol addiction, following recent trials that demonstrated the drugs' effectiveness in treating severe health issues.

There have also been concerns about potential adverse effects of the drugs, with some patients reporting thoughts of suicide or self-harm.

Late-stage trial data from Novo Nordisk A/S NVO, released last month, showed that their Wegovy weight loss injection significantly reduced heart failure-related symptoms among high-risk patients.

These findings represent a significant milestone for Novo Nordisk as they aim to broaden the perception of their product, often labeled a "vanity drug." Researchers are optimistic that this could open up new possibilities for the drugs' applications in treating other conditions.

Christian Hendershot, the director of the clinical and translational addiction research program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is among those investigating whether the appetite-regulating mechanisms used in weight loss drugs could be leveraged to address alcohol and drug addiction. 

He noted, "The results show that this medication can have health benefits beyond the short-term."

Preclinical trial data has indicated the effectiveness of GLP-1 medication in reducing drug and alcohol intake among animals for several years, CNBC reported. 

Hendershot is currently testing Ozempic, Wegovy's predecessor used in treating type 2 diabetes, to determine if these trends also apply to humans.

Kyle Simmons, a professor of pharmacology and physiology at Oklahoma State University, is leading the Semaglutide Therapy for Alcohol Reduction (STAR) trial. Simmons noted the potential for the drugs to reduce cravings for substances like cocaine, amphetamines, and opioids.

At the University of Oxford, a trial is underway to test patients at risk of developing dementia to see if the drugs can reduce tau accumulation and brain inflammation.

Simmons stressed the need for further research to understand the impact of these drugs on reward signaling in the brain, including monitoring participants' reward responses in a virtual reality simulation.

Price Action: NVO shares are down 0.12% at $191.02 during the premarket session on the last check Thursday.