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Novo NordiskThe large-scale diabetes drug Ozempic can also help people reduce alcohol.
This is funded by the new government Research Posted last week in JAMA Psychiatry.
This is a small study of 48 adults who have been in just over two months, but it seems to be the first clinical trial to confirm that so-called GLP-1 drugs can help reduce the risk of drinking too much alcohol. Multiple analysis of real-world data Research In animals, connections are made.
For those with alcohol disorders, these findings can be enormous, that is, you cannot stop drinking even if you put your health and safety hazards. The disease affects nearly 30 million people in the United States and covers people commonly known as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or alcohol poisoning, according to National Drug Use and Health Survey by 2023.
The study authors wrote that alcohol use was 2.6 million deaths and increased the risk of common diseases, such as different cancers. Three drugs have been approved for alcoholic disease, but the authors say only a small percentage of patients are treated.
New data adds to growing evidence that GLP-1, such as Ozempic and its weight loss counterparts, can help people manage their cravings, not just for food and alcohol.
Some preliminary studies have proposed these drugs May suppress desire By blocking the activation of the brain’s reward pathways, it is used for smoking, opioid use, gambling and overshopping. GLP-1 mimic hormone produced in the intestine is intended to suppress a person’s appetite and regulate his blood sugar.
However, larger and longer studies will require confirmation of the effects of these drugs on addictive behavior.
Let’s study the data.
The researchers recruited people aged 21 to 65 who reported symptoms of alcohol use disorder but did not actively seek treatment. Diabetics and those who have previously used GLP-1 or other weight loss medications are exclude From research.
The patients spent two hours in a laboratory rich in preferred alcoholic beverages—only after they began taking any medications in the study, only to see what changed. About half of the people took the low dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient of Ozempic, and half received a placebo shot every week for 9 weeks.
They also reported their drinking habits and desire for alcohol throughout the study.
The results showed that Ozempic injections reduced weekly alcohol cravings, reduced average drink counts on alcohol days and resulted in a decrease in heavy drinking days compared to placebo. It is worth noting that Ozim’s impact on curbing several alcohol consumption outcomes seems to be greater than what existing drugs designed to reduce alcohol cravings are often seen.
By the second month of the study, people taking Ozempic had an average of 30% fewer days. Compared with the average reduction of about 2% in the placebo group.
In the second month of treatment, nearly 40% of people taking Ozempic reported no heavy drinking days, compared with 20% in the placebo group.
The study authors noted that they used two lowest clinical doses of semaglutide in the trial. They added that higher doses of the drug “presumably have a greater impact on alcohol consumption.”
Klara Klein, senior writer at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine statement. “Large and longer studies are needed across a wider population to fully understand the safety and efficacy of patients with alcohol use disorders, but these initial findings are promising.”
Among a small percentage of smokers, the average daily decrease in cigarettes was significantly greater in those who took Ozempic compared to those in the placebo group. This suggests that Ozempic can reduce alcohol and nicotine use.
Yililai Plans to study whether its weight loss pills can help treat addictive behaviors such as alcohol and substance abuse. The company said it will start large-scale clinical trials in 2025.
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika annikakim.constantino@nbcuni.com.
Latest medical technology: Primary care physicians worry patients access GLP-1 through third-party telemedicine providers.
A box of Ozempic and items sit on a table in Dudley in North Tyneside, UK, October 31, 2023.
George Frey | Reuters
Some patients turn to digital health companies as demand for blockbuster GLP-1 weight loss pills surges in recent years He and hers Medicines are available for health, RO, sesame and NOOM. Primary care doctors think this is not a good idea.
Metabolic health startup OMADA releases investigation More than 2,000 primary care physicians evaluated their attitudes toward GLP-1 and various treatment plans last week. Overall, doctors say they are concerned about third-party telehealth providers.
Less than 20% of the doctors interviewed said they would be satisfied with patients using GLP-1 medications by third-party telemedicine providers. Two-thirds of respondents said they agreed that accessing prescriptions through third-party telemedicine providers could put patients on health risks.
“It’s shocking, I don’t even think it’ll be that high,” Omada president Wei-Li Shao told CNBC in an interview.
Omada does not prescribe GLP-1, but the company offers a companion program to support patients taking medication. It is also designed to help patients decide to stop taking medications to maintain weight loss.
The company found that primary school doctors are primarily concerned about third-party telehealth providers for two reasons: overprescription and continuity of care. In other words, they are concerned that patients can access GLP-1 in clinically inappropriate situations and that they may not be able to get the required support through other contact points such as follow-up visits.
In addition, many physicians surveyed have fenced the effects of compound GLP-1, which are custom alternatives to branded drugs designed to meet the needs of specific patients. Complex drugs can also be produced when used in brand therapy shortage.
The FDA does not review the safety and efficacy of composite products, but they can serve as alternatives to branded medications for patients who are browsing complex supply barriers and spot insurance coverage.
About 45% of physicians surveyed said complex GLP-1 would not be a long-term supply strategy, although they agreed they could help address the current shortage. 30% of respondents said they agree or strongly agree that they can prescribe compound GLP-1.
“The patient or someone who is looking for a solution is confused,” Shaw said. “Our position is to talk to your doctor, talk to your primary care physician, who knows you, knows your history, knows your goals, and Know what your goals are and the right treatment for what is working with you.”
Read the full report here.
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Ashley ashley.capoot@nbcuni.com.
Health plans are in trouble with the cost of new sickle cell gene therapy
It has been more than a year since the FDA approved the sickle cell gene therapy. But in some ways, breakthrough drugs are still waiting for launch to treat patients at scale.
Since more than half of sickle cell patients are covered by Medicaid, it is difficult to expand the coverage of sickle cell therapy. States are already facing high health care costs in joint programs with the federal government and are preparing for potential funding cuts in Congress. Private insurance companies also face higher medical expenses.
CVS Health CEO David Joyner told me that both private and government health programs are looking for new ways to manage the cost of breakthrough gene therapy.
Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Bertha betha.coombs@nbcuni.com.
