04 Apr Small Study Suggests Ozempic Relative May Slow Parkinson’s

By Robin Foster, HealthDay News

THURSDAY, April 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Could a medication similar to the blockbuster weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy slow the ravages of Parkinson’s disease?

A new, small study suggests it could: Over the course of a year, a group of French researchers followed 156 people with early Parkinson’s who were randomly given lixisenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Sanofi, or a placebo.

What did they discover? Parkinson’s symptoms like tremor, stiffness, slowness and balance got worse in those taking the placebo but not in those taking the drug.

Experts said the findings are a good starting point for future research on the drug’s powers against the movement disorder. Read more…