Ozempic and other GLP-1-based drugs, long known for their effectiveness in treating diabetes and obesity, are now showing potential in tackling a broader range of medical conditions, from liver disease and arthritis to Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disorders.
While the full extent of their benefits is still being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials, early evidence points to promising results in treating sleep apnea, alcohol dependency, and even slowing age-related decline.
“These medications could help millions of patients with serious chronic illnesses,” said Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. “If you treat obesity, all of its complications and resulting disorders should improve.”
GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. Their impact on body weight has been central to their rise, with weight loss linked to secondary improvements in heart health, joint pain, and metabolic function.
Physicians have noted marked progress in patients with psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune condition, attributing the benefit to both weight loss and a possible anti-inflammatory mechanism inherent to GLP-1s.
Liver specialists are also closely watching developments. A recent New England Journal of Medicine study found that semaglutide—the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy—improved outcomes in patients with MASH, or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a progressive liver disease that affects about 15 million Americans.
In neurology, researchers are exploring whether GLP-1 drugs offer neuroprotective effects. A small U.K. study last year found that liraglutide, another drug in the class made by Novo Nordisk, slowed cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients when compared to placebo.
Still, experts warn that these treatments are not without risks. Use in non-obese individuals for purely cosmetic weight loss has raised concerns about malnutrition. And earlier studies showed tumor development in rats, prompting warnings against use in people with certain thyroid or head and neck cancers.
Ozempic is currently approved for managing type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, obesity. In the U.S., over 100 million adults are obese, and 38 million live with diabetes—making the potential reach of GLP-1 therapies vast.
Adoption, however, faces several hurdles. The drugs are expensive, often not fully covered by insurance, and gastrointestinal side effects—such as nausea and vomiting—can lead patients to abandon treatment. Moreover, supply has struggled to keep pace with soaring demand. Manufacturers like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are ramping up production, but shortages persist.
Estimates suggest that by 2035, roughly 29 million Americans could be using GLP-1 drugs—still only a fraction of those eligible. Researchers hope that next-generation therapies, including oral versions and longer-acting formulations, will improve access and broaden the impact of this expanding class of medication.
