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Research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona shows that the diabetes and weight-loss drug semaglutide is linked to nearly a 40 per cent reduction in asthma attacks. Led by Imperial College London researchers using UK health records, the findings suggest metabolic therapies could eventually transform respiratory care.
When medical researchers set out to investigate real-world health records, they expected to see the known metabolic benefits of advanced diabetes medications. What they found instead points toward an unexpected therapeutic frontier: powerful relief for chronic airway diseases.
Real-World Records Reveal Lower Respiratory Risks
“GLP-1 receptor agonists are widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Previous research suggests that they may have anti-inflammatory effects and may improve lung-related outcomes, However, asthma and COPD outcomes have not been included as outcomes in GLP-1 drug trials. We wanted to use real-world health records to investigate whether people with asthma or COPD who started GLP-1 receptor agonists had fewer acute respiratory attacks.”
Professor Chloe Bloom, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London
To capture accurate outcomes, the research team structured four parallel studies. Patients prescribed GLP-1 therapies consistently showed fewer acute flare-ups than those managed on alternative diabetes drugs.
Semaglutide Demonstrates the Strongest Airway Impact
The protective association varied across medications and specific respiratory conditions, with one specific therapy standing out above the rest. The positive effects proved significant across both asthma and COPD patient groups, but the statistical signal shone brightest for asthma sufferers taking semaglutide, marketed globally under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
“The effect was strongest with semaglutide, especially in people with asthma, where use of semaglutide appears to be associated with nearly 40% reduction in asthma attacks. Semaglutide also led to a 20% reduction in COPD flare-ups.”
Professor Chloe Bloom, Clinical Associate Professor in Respiratory Epidemiology
Bridging Metabolic Health and Respiratory Care
Dr Alexander Mathioudakis, Chair of the European Respiratory Society’s Group on Airway Pharmacology and Treatment and Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, noted that metabolic dysfunction frequently coexists with airway diseases yet remains under-recognized in clinical settings.
“It highlights the need to consider metabolic health as part of respiratory care. It also supports the case for including respiratory outcomes, such as asthma attacks and COPD exacerbations, in future trials of metabolic therapies.”
Dr Alexander Mathioudakis, Chair of the European Respiratory Society’s Group on Airway Pharmacology and Treatment
For patients with airways disease who already meet the eligibility criteria for GLP-1 treatments due to obesity or type 2 diabetes, the observational data offers a compelling secondary advantage. However, the scientific community stresses caution before altering treatment protocols.
Despite the encouraging numbers presented at the Barcelona congress, investigators maintain strict boundaries regarding current prescribing practices. Professor Bloom cautioned that patients should not initiate these medications solely to treat a lung condition outside established guidelines.
Confirming these observational findings requires rigorous, randomized clinical trials that track lung function, symptom scores, quality of life, and acute exacerbation rates.
Future research paths are already taking shape following the congress presentation, designated under abstract OA5561, titled The differential effects of GLP-1 based therapies in airways disease
. Medical experts will watch for upcoming clinical trials designed to test whether metabolic interventions can officially join the standard therapeutic toolkit for managing chronic airway inflammation.
