GLP-1: beyond weight loss
Towards new indications in overall health
Since the craze for GLP-1 analogues such as Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, and Zepbound® began, scientific research has progressed rapidly. This evolution is part of a broader paradigm shift, recently reinforced by the World Health Organization, which now recognizes obesity as a chronic disease requiring long-term medical management, in which GLP-1-type treatments are playing an increasingly important role. While the effectiveness of these drugs for weight loss and type 2 diabetes management has been widely documented, potential benefits in other areas of health are now emerging from the scientific landscape.
1. Cardiovascular effects beyond metabolic control
GLP-1 receptor agonists have now been shown to reduce major cardiovascular risk (heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular mortality) in several clinical studies, regardless of weight loss or glycemic control. Some of these drugs are even recognized for reducing these events in high-risk patients.
2. Significant renal protection
Beyond the heart, clinical data indicate that GLP-1 drugs have a protective effect on the kidneys, slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease in diabetic patients or those at risk. In the FLOW trial, for example, the use of semaglutide significantly reduced composite renal events, leading to new approvals in certain indications.
3. Oncological implications: reduced risk of certain obesity-related cancers
In observational studies involving large patient cohorts, the use of GLP-1 agonists has been associated with a reduced risk of several obesity-related cancers (colon, endometrium, esophagus, etc.). These results do not confirm a direct anti-cancer effect, but they suggest that metabolic modulation may play a role in the prevention of tumors linked to metabolic disorders.
4. Neuroprotection: still an exploratory topic
Some preclinical and clinical studies suggest that GLP-1 agonists may have neuroprotective effects. For example, recent data show that liraglutide may slow down certain processes associated with Alzheimer's disease, particularly in people with mild cognitive impairment, by modifying certain biological markers and slowing down the atrophy of key areas of the brain.
5. Pharmacological advances: toward more powerful agents
A new generation of drugs is currently being developed, including:
Retatrutide: a triple agonist that simultaneously targets GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. Phase III data suggest more pronounced metabolic effects, with greater weight reductions than current drugs, and the TRIUMPH-OUTCOMES study is also evaluating its impact on cardiovascular and renal health. This drug, which is still in development, is expected to be approved by Health Canada and the FDA around 2027.
GLP-1 drugs have reached an important milestone. From semaglutide to tirzepatide, and soon to retatrutide, we are witnessing a shift toward more comprehensive metabolic therapies that could transform the management of complex metabolic diseases in the years to come.
As always, these treatments are not suitable for everyone and must be prescribed within a rigorous medical framework, with a personalized assessment. But the prospects they open up are significant, both for overall health and for the future of preventive medicine.