A new clinical trial suggests semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, may do more than help with weight loss and blood sugar control. According to ScienceDaily, researchers found a possible link between semaglutide and slower biological aging in adults living with HIV.
The study, published in Nature Communications, used data from an earlier trial that included 108 adults with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy, a condition marked by excess fat buildup around the abdomen. About half of the participants received weekly semaglutide injections, while the others received placebo shots.
To measure aging, the researchers looked at so-called epigenetic clocks, which estimate biological age by tracking DNA methylation changes. Compared with the placebo group, those who received semaglutide showed signs that some aging-related DNA markers were building up more slowly, according to the researchers.
The scientists said the drug may influence aging through several pathways, including reduced inflammation, better metabolic health and lower levels of visceral and ectopic fat. They stressed that semaglutide is not an anti-aging drug, and said much larger studies will be needed to confirm the results and determine how long any benefit might last.
The research team also said the findings could have broader implications because many of the biological processes involved in HIV are also tied to aging in the general population. The study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health and the James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust.
