Despite New Spin, Obesity and Diabetes Drug Failed Alzheimer’s Trial

Some early studies suggested a class of diabetes drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which have been proven to also help people lose weight and reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke, might protect against Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia too. But in 2020, a clinical trial failed to show that a GLP-1 agonist called liraglutide had any clinical benefit.

Despite that, researchers at the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia presented data from the same failed clinical trial — and this time said it might work.  

The drug failed the primary goal of the study, showing no benefit for the brain’s glucose metabolism in people with Alzheimer’s. The trial did succeed, however, in one of its secondary and exploratory goals: slowing cognitive decline on one dementia scale, and it also appeared to slow brain shrinkage.

According to reporting in AlzForum, the differences in cognitive trajectories and brain shrinkage were very small and may not be meaningful.

When the primary goal of a study fails, the results of secondary and exploratory analysis are often treated with skepticism.

When researchers registered the clinical trial protocol, they noted that they would also measure microglia activation, amyloid, and tau in the brain but they did not end up running these tests. What’s more, the researchers have yet to publish the data in a scientific journal. 

While this drug might not work, different GLP-1 drugs are still being tested for treating Alzheimer’s. Drugmaker Novo Nordisk is currently conducting two large Phase 3 trials of the GLP-1 drug semaglutide (brand names Wegovy and Ozempic), each with 1,840 participants, over the course of more than three years for the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Results from these trials are expected by the end of 2025. 

EDITOR’S NOTE, August 19: On July 30, Being Patient published a story as part of our real-time AAIC coverage headlined “This Obesity and Diabetes Drug Might Work for Alzheimer’s Symptoms,” following announcements made by AAIC. In the story, we noted clinical trial data presented at AAIC appeared to slow down Alzheimer’s cognitive decline. Since, we have determined that the findings were entirely a failed trial shared in 2020 and that there have been no new developments. This piece replaces that story. Being Patient regrets the oversight.