Semaglutide-based medications, widely used to treat obesity and diabetes, may also offer benefits for individuals with asthma, according to researchers from Imperial College London. Presenting their findings at the recent European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona, the team reported a notable reduction in asthma attacks among patients using these drugs.
The study focused on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies, particularly semaglutide, which are known for their appetite-suppressing properties. Researchers analyzed electronic medical records from approximately 20,000 patients in the United Kingdom, comparing those prescribed GLP-1 treatments with individuals taking sulphonylureas, another class of diabetes medication. The data suggested that people with airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who received GLP-1 therapies experienced fewer asthma attacks and COPD exacerbations.
Dr. Chloe Bloom, clinical associate professor in respiratory epidemiology at Imperial College London’s National Heart and Lung Institute and lead investigator of the study, highlighted that the greatest effect was observed in asthma patients treated with semaglutide. According to Dr. Bloom, this group saw nearly a 40 percent reduction in the frequency of asthma attacks compared to those on other diabetes medications.
Despite these encouraging findings, experts caution that the results do not currently support prescribing semaglutide or similar drugs solely for asthma or other respiratory conditions. Dr. Alexander Mathioudakis, chair of the European Respiratory Society’s Group on Airway Pharmacology and Treatment, stressed the need for dedicated clinical trials to evaluate respiratory outcomes such as lung function, symptom control, quality of life, and exacerbation rates before such medications can be recommended as part of asthma management.
Additionally, while semaglutide and related GLP-1 receptor agonists have become established treatments for weight management and diabetes, their appetite-suppressing effects have raised concerns about potential side effects, including malnutrition and hair loss in some patients.
The emerging evidence for a protective role in airway disease underscores the potential for metabolic therapies to contribute to a more personalized approach in managing asthma and COPD. However, further research is necessary to confirm these observational findings and to explore the underlying mechanisms linking GLP-1 receptor agonists to respiratory health.