The breakthrough diabetes drug Ozempic may lower the risk of opioid overdoses in certain patients, according to a new study published Wednesday, signaling that the wonder drug may eventually be used as an alternative form of treatment for opioid use disorder.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and the weight loss drug Wegovy, was associated with “significantly lower” opioid overdose risk than other similar medications for patients diagnosed with both Type 2 diabetes and opioid use disorder. 

The study, conducted by medical researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, analyzed medical records of nearly 33,000 patients prescribed either semaglutide or other diabetes medications between December 2017 and June 2023.

Researchers monitored the number of opioid overdoses among patients on semaglutide for one year after stopping treatment and found that the risk of opioid overdose was 58% less for those with a history of semaglutide use compared to those on insulin.

The results of the study are limited since, as yet, there have been no randomized clinical trials to determine whether or not the broader class of GLP-1 drugs could be useful for preventing overdoses in the population as a whole or only in patients with specific conditions. 

If these preliminary findings are more widely applicable, opioid use disorder would be added to the long list of ailments potentially reduced by Ozempic.

Semaglutide, arguably the crown jewel of the Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for Type 2 diabetes, obesity management, and cardiovascular disease. Other studies have also shown it to potentially slow cognitive decline in patients with diabetes.

Advocates have campaigned heavily for the past year to have both Ozempic and Wegovy covered by Medicare, arguing that the currently expensive drugs will inevitably save money as preventative treatment compared to the cost of treating chronic illnesses.

In July, a bipartisan group of physician legislators in both chambers of Congress introduced the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act that would expand chronic obesity medication and treatment to Medicare recipients.

Currently, Ozempic is covered by Medicare only for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, not obesity. Market analysts project that Ozempic will likely be part of the next round of Medicare drug price negotiations to lower the price the federal government pays for the drug for seniors.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee grilled Novo Nordisk CEO about the exorbitant list prices for Ozempic and Wegovy, calling them both “game-changing drugs” that could save thousands of lives “if made affordable.”

The current U.S. list price for Ozempic is $969 per month. Wegovy is currently listed at $1,349 per month.