If the market for GLP-1 drugs wasn’t already growing fast enough, the makers of these wonder drugs just received some news that could accelerate their growth. A study in mice funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that the GLP-1 drug semaglutide extended the lifespan of older, healthy mice by mitigating the harmful effects of aging.
Of course, researchers have long known that calorie restriction can have anti-aging benefits. And GLP-1 drugs are designed to suppress appetite, thereby reducing calorie intake. But the new study, conducted at the University of California, found that the drugs’ effects on mice could be more than just a consequence of a low-calorie diet.
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In fact, the new study in healthy aged mice proves that these drugs can slow down physiological aging itself. According to the NIH press release: “Compared to a control group, mice treated with the drug showed improvement in muscle and cognitive functions. Gene expression analysis showed that several hallmarks of natural aging, such as increased inflammation and reduced regenerative capacity, were reduced in treated animals. »
The study in question used the GLP-1 drug semaglutide, made by the Danish drugmaker. Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and marketed as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for obesity and chronic weight management.
Elie Lilly(NYSE: LLY)’s lead GLP-1 drug is called tirzepatide, which it markets as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss. Late last year, tirzepatide became the world’s best-selling drug, hitting MerckThe anti-cancer drug Keytruda comes out of first place.
I suppose the anti-aging effects of semaglutide in the study could be replicated with tirzepatide. And this should be fantastic news for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Of course, research remains far from establishing the same anti-aging results in humans. But if people believe this, it will only encourage the adoption of these drugs.
The GLP-1 market is already expected to explode
The use of GLP-1 drugs is growing rapidly. According to polling firm Gallup, Americans’ use of GLP-1 injectables for weight loss has nearly quadrupled since 2024. The percentage of American adults taking these weight-loss drugs increased to 11% this year, up from 3% just two years ago. And 15% of U.S. adults report using the drug at some point.
Gn Health
