Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Can Semaglutide Help Fight Cancer In The Brain?

Can Semaglutide Help Fight Cancer in the Brain?

<span>Semaglutide</span> is the hero ingredient in the popular drugs <span>Ozempic</span> (used primarily to treat Type-2 diabetes) and <span>Wegovy</span> (used for chronic weight management).

Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has shown its prowess in lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in patients with <span>type 2 diabetes</span>, obesity, and heart or blood vessel disease.

With emerging preclinical evidence suggesting its potential neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, an international team of researchers from the US and Taiwan focused their study on semaglutide and patients whose <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/cancer">cancer</a></span> has spread to the brain.

Cancer in the brain, also known as brain metastases, is an advanced-stage (stage IV) cancer, which is generally associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in patients. Those with comorbidities like type 2 diabetes are likely to have worse outcomes.  

The research, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that although the once-weekly semaglutide injections cannot directly treat cancer, they can potentially help some very ill patients live longer.

“The findings of this cohort study suggest that GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality among patients with cancer with brain metastases and type 2 diabetes, with generally consistent association across subgroups," said the team from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan, in the paper.   

<h2>How Semaglutide Helped Patients With Brain Metastases?</h2>

The teams analyzed medical records from 151 hospitals around the world. 

They identified more than 19,000 patients with cancer, brain metastases, and type 2 diabetes. Of these, 866 had been treated with a GLP-1 drug, while over 11,000 had not. 

Their final analysis included two groups of 850 patients who were compared for the effects of semaglutide and were followed for up to three years after their brain metastases were first recorded.

The patients taking semaglutide were significantly less likely to die -- about 37 percent -- during the follow-up period than those who were not.

The pattern was fairly consistent across several major cancer types, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.  

"These results build upon existing evidence that GLP-1 receptor activation modulates pathways relevant to neuro-oncologic health, including attenuation of neuroinflammation, preservation of blood–brain barrier integrity, and reduction of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction," the researchers said.

However, they also acknowledged limitations, such as the study was retrospectively conducted, which checked medical records and did not test patients in a controlled trial.

<h2>Ozempic Goes Generic, To Cost Less By 90%</h2>

With Novo Nordisk losing its patent in many countries, the sky-high prices of Ozempic and Wegovy are likely to go down by 90 percent.   

This means the drug will be available at cheaper rates to 40 per cent of the world's population.

In India, the patent ended on March 20, and since then, several companies, including <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/alkem-laboratories-launches-cheapest-semaglutide-injection-in-india-article-153892976" data-type="tilCustomLink">Alkem Laboratories</a>, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/natco-pharmas-1st-to-launch-generic-semaglutide-in-india-prices-start-from-rs-1290-article-153883910" data-type="tilCustomLink">NATCO Pharma</a>, Eris Lifesciences, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, have launched their generic versions of semaglutide at a reduced price.

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/semaglutide-becomes-cheap-in-india-a-gamechanger-or-health-gamble-article-153890116" data-type="tilCustomLink">Semaglutide Becomes Cheap In India: A Gamechanger Or Health Gamble?</a>

<strong>Who Should Avoid Semaglutide?</strong>

Semaglutide should be avoided or used with extreme caution in:

<ul><li>Patients with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma</li><li>Individuals with a history of pancreatitis</li><li>Those with severe gastrointestinal disease (e.g., gastroparesis)</li><li>Pregnant or breastfeeding women</li><li>Patients with Type 1 diabetes</li><li>Patients with severe eye problems due to diabetes (can be taken with care)</li><li>Individuals seeking purely cosmetic <span rel="noindex">weight loss</span> without a medical indication.</li></ul>

Health Conditions A-Z

health

Semaglutide

Ozempic

Wegovy

Type 2 diabetes

weight loss

Brain Tumours

GLP 1 drugs

cancer

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Semaglutide is the hero ingredient in the popular drugs Ozempic (used primarily to treat Type-2 diabetes) and Wegovy (used for chronic weight management). Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, has shown its prowess in lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in patients with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart or blood vessel disease. With emerging preclinical evidence suggesting its potential neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, an international team of researchers from the US and Taiwan focused their study on semaglutide and patients whose cancer has spread to the brain.Cancer in the brain, also known as brain metastases, is an advanced-stage (stage IV) cancer, which is generally associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in patients. Those with comorbidities like type 2 diabetes are likely to have worse outcomes.   The research, published in JAMA Network Open, showed that although the once-weekly semaglutide injections cannot directly treat cancer, they can potentially help some very ill patients live longer.“The findings of this cohort study suggest that GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality among patients with cancer with brain metastases and type 2 diabetes, with generally consistent association across subgroups," said the team from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan, in the paper.   How Semaglutide Helped Patients With Brain Metastases?The teams analyzed medical records from 151 hospitals around the world. They identified more than 19,000 patients with cancer, brain metastases, and type 2 diabetes. Of these, 866 had been treated with a GLP-1 drug, while over 11,000 had not.  Their final analysis included two groups of 850 patients who were compared for the effects of semaglutide and were followed for up to three years after their brain metastases were first recorded. The patients taking semaglutide were significantly less likely to die -- about 37 percent -- during the follow-up period than those who were not. The pattern was fairly consistent across several major cancer types, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma.  "These results build upon existing evidence that GLP-1 receptor activation modulates pathways relevant to neuro-oncologic health, including attenuation of neuroinflammation, preservation of blood–brain barrier integrity, and reduction of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction," the researchers said.However, they also acknowledged limitations, such as the study was retrospectively conducted, which checked medical records and did not test patients in a controlled trial.Ozempic Goes Generic, To Cost Less By 90%With Novo Nordisk losing its patent in many countries, the sky-high prices of Ozempic and Wegovy are likely to go down by 90 percent.   This means the drug will be available at cheaper rates to 40 per cent of the world's population.In India, the patent ended on March 20, and since then, several companies, including Alkem Laboratories, NATCO Pharma, Eris Lifesciences, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, have launched their generic versions of semaglutide at a reduced price. Also read: Semaglutide Becomes Cheap In India: A Gamechanger Or Health Gamble?Who Should Avoid Semaglutide?Semaglutide should be avoided or used with extreme caution in:Patients with a history of medullary thyroid carcinomaIndividuals with a history of pancreatitisThose with severe gastrointestinal disease (e.g., gastroparesis)Pregnant or breastfeeding womenPatients with Type 1 diabetesPatients with severe eye problems due to diabetes (can be taken with care)Individuals seeking purely cosmetic weight loss without a medical indication.