Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic may reduce the risk of cancer in obese people.

Taking glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), the active ingredient in type 2 diabetes and weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic , is associated with a reduced overall risk of cancer , including a lower risk of endometrial, ovarian, and meningioma tumors, in patients who are overweight or obese, according to a retrospective cohort study published in 'Jama Oncology'.

However, the same study suggests that consumption of ARGLP-1 could be linked to an increased risk of kidney cancer, although not significantly, highlighting the need for long-term follow-up to clarify the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of these findings.

The study used a clinical trial emulation design with electronic health records from OneFlorida+, a multicenter health research network integrating real-world clinical data from diverse healthcare settings, from 2014 to 2024.

The incidence of 14 cancers, including 13 obesity-associated cancers (liver, thyroid, pancreas, bladder, colorectal, kidney, breast, endometrium, meningioma, upper gastrointestinal tract, ovarian, multiple myeloma, and prostate) and lung cancer, was compared in 43,317 people taking PG-1RAs with 43,315 matched people not taking them.

The incidence rates for the 14 cancer types were 13.6 versus 16.4 per 1,000 person-years, respectively, indicating a significantly lower overall cancer risk among individuals taking GLP-1RAs compared with nonusers. Specifically, GLP-1RA use was associated with a lower risk of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and meningioma. However, a marginally nonsignificant increased risk of kidney cancer was observed, especially in patients younger than 65 years or who were overweight.