Daijiworld Media Network – London

London, Nov 25: In a setback to hopes of finding new treatment options for dementia, drug maker Novo Nordisk has confirmed that semaglutide—the active ingredient in its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy—does not slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The conclusion comes from two major Evoke trials involving over 3,800 participants aged 55 to 85 with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s. Despite earlier real-world reports suggesting possible benefits, the GLP-1 drug showed no advantage over a placebo in delaying dementia.

The results, which will be presented at an Alzheimer’s conference next month, are yet to undergo peer review.

Dr Susan Kohlhaas of Alzheimer’s Research UK said the findings would be disappointing for those affected by Alzheimer’s.

Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk’s chief scientific officer, said the company felt compelled to explore semaglutide’s potential because of the urgent need for effective dementia treatments.

“While it did not show efficacy in slowing Alzheimer’s, semaglutide continues to provide significant benefits for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity,” he said.

Although the trials recorded improvements in some Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers, researchers said these did not translate into slowing disease progression. Cognitive tests and interviews were used to track changes.

Dr Kohlhaas noted that the outcome highlights the complexity of Alzheimer’s, stressing that “no single approach is likely to be enough” and calling for deeper research into multiple biological pathways.

Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said that while the results were “very disappointing,” every study still contributes to better drug development. She noted that more than 130 Alzheimer’s drugs are currently in clinical trials worldwide, including around 30 in late-stage testing.