Blockbuster weight loss drugs from Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Eli Lilly (LLY) can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, a major new study has revealed.
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People who took so-called GLP-1 medicines, such as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, were up to 12% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
However, they were seen as more likely to develop other conditions, such as kidney and pancreatic conditions, according to the study in the journal Nature Medicine.
Study Hails Cognitive Benefits of NVO, LLY Drugs
The study of 215,000 U.S. military veterans with diabetes considered the difference between people taking so-called GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy, versus older medicines. Around one in eight Americans have taken GLP-1 medicines, popular prescription drugs used for weight loss, treating diabetes and to prevent heart attacks or strokes for adults with heart disease.
Researchers at St Louis’s Washington University established that the veterans taking the newer medicines faced a lower risk for 42 conditions and higher risk for 19.
People taking the GLP-1 drugs showed a reduced risk of substance use and psychotic disorders, seizures, neurocognitive disorders (including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia), coagulation disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, infectious illnesses and several respiratory conditions.
However, there was for instance an increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders, hypotension, syncope, arthritic disorders, nephrolithiasis, interstitial nephritis and drug-induced pancreatitis.
It comes after the outgoing Biden administration included Ozempic and Wegovy among its 15 prescription drugs slated for Medicare price negotiations.
Meanwhile, last week Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) said Cobenfy, its new schizophrenia drug, could be a multibillion-dollar success story in the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
Is LLY a Good Stock to Buy?
Overall, Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on LLY stock, based on 15 Buys and two Holds. The average LLY price target of $1,024 implies around 41% upside from the current level, with shares rising by 15% in the last 12 months.
