Novo Nordisk testing Wegovy to treat Alzheimer’s
Robert Price | Last update: 21st October 2025
Following early research suggesting that weight loss drugs may help protect brain health, new large-scale trials are now underway to test whether semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, could be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
What’s happening?
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, is now testing semaglutide in two phase 3 clinical trials to assess whether the drug can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Each trial includes around 1,800 patients. One focuses on those with early-stage Alzheimer’s, while the other looks at patients who have mild cognitive impairment.
The research is part of a wider push to explore the neuroprotective benefits of GLP-1 drugs, which were originally developed for diabetes and now dominate the weight loss market.
SlimrChat’s view
We’ve already reported on the link between GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro and a lower risk of developing dementia. Now, Novo Nordisk is testing whether similar drugs might go even further – not just protecting the brain, but treating Alzheimer’s directly.
Read: Mounjaro linked to lower dementia risk
It’s early days, but for those of us who’ve seen first hand the toll of cognitive decline, even the possibility of a breakthrough is something worth watching closely.