Semaglutide, the key ingredient in popular diabetes medications Ozempic and Wegovy, has shown promising results in a small study for patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The study, led by Dr. Paresh Dandona, found that seven out of 10 patients were able to stop taking insulin after three to six months of treatment with semaglutide. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, need to be replicated in a larger and longer trial.
Semaglutide is currently approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. It has been shown to help control type 2 diabetes, lead to significant weight loss, prevent heart attacks and strokes, and reduce symptoms of heart failure. Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is a chronic disease where the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, requiring lifelong insulin use.
The researchers decided to test semaglutide in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients because the drug is believed to reduce the inflammation that leads to the destruction of insulin-producing cells. The initial results of the study were described as “dramatic” by Dr. Dandona, with all 10 patients able to stop taking prandial insulin after three months, and seven patients also able to stop basal insulin after six months.
The study also showed that the patients had an increase in their body’s ability to produce insulin and more stable blood sugar levels. However, experts caution that more rigorous studies are needed to confirm these results. Dr. Daniel Drucker, who pioneered research into drugs like semaglutide, emphasized the importance of preserving beta cell function for better diabetes management.
The positive findings from this study had a significant impact on the stock market, with companies that produce insulin delivery products experiencing a drop in stock prices. However, both Dr. Dandona and Dr. Drucker emphasized that it is too early to determine if semaglutide will reduce the demand for insulin.
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of semaglutide, noted that it did not sponsor this study but supports research for potential advancements in treatments for type 1 diabetes. The company stated that it is not currently pursuing trials of semaglutide for type 1 diabetes but continues to support investigator-initiated studies.
Dr. Dandona, who had previously not received support from Novo Nordisk for his work, expressed confidence in the potential of semaglutide and stated that the company may regret not supporting his research in the past.
Further research and larger trials are necessary to fully evaluate the effectiveness and potential of semaglutide as a treatment for type 1 diabetes.