The anti-diabetic medication "Ozempic" (semaglutide) made by Danish pharmaceutical company "Novo Nordisk". On TikTok, the hashtag "#Ozempic" has reached more than 500 million views: this anti-diabetic medication is trending on the social network for its' slimming properties, a phenomenon that is causing supply shortages and worrying doctors.JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images
A new study has found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy, can save people from Covid-19. The findings, shared by CNBC, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology show that those taking 2.4 mg of semaglutide had a 33% reduced likelihood of dying from the virus compared to those not on the medication.
Until now, semaglutide was known to just lower the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. This latest study, however, suggests that it cuts non-cardiovascular deaths by 29%. But as one of the co-authors, Benjamin Scirica, points out, weight, per se, did not feature much in these findings.
The research began before the pandemic and continued throughout. It involved over 17,600 participants who were overweight or obese and had heart conditions but did not have diabetes. Besides weight loss, semaglutide also has a potential to improve various health conditions, including symptoms of heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
These new findings are likely to further boost Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind both Ozempic and Wegovy, whose market value has soared amidst intense competition in the weight loss sector.
Headquartered in Denmark, the company has now emerged as the most valued firm in Europe and is rivaled by US-based Eli Lilly, among other challengers.
Yale University School of Medicine Professor and JACC editor Harlan Krumholz discussed the study's implications, "I begin to think about the weight loss almost as a side effect," Krumholz said. He emphasized the need for further research to fully understand the mechanisms by which semaglutide improves overall health and helps resist adverse pandemic effects.
Despite these positive findings, not all aspects of weight loss drugs have been beneficial. A separate study by Harvard Medical School, reported by Bloomberg, earlier this year indicated a potential link between such medications and an increased risk of a rare eye disease.
Looking ahead, further investigation into the full spectrum of semaglutide's effects is ongoing.
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