Ozempic & Wegovy: A Potential Game-Changer in Respiratory Healthcare
The groundbreaking weight-loss drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, could be on the verge of revolutionizing respiratory healthcare. According to a recent study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on September 9, 2026, semaglutide — the active ingredient in both medications — is associated with nearly 40% fewer asthma attacks and approximately 20% fewer COPD flare-ups.
This significant research was spearheaded by Professor Chloe Bloom, Clinical Associate Professor in Respiratory Epidemiology at the National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London. The study, presented by Dr. Bohee Lee, scrutinized UK electronic health records across four parallel cohorts, each consisting of between 20,000 and 22,000 adults with pre-existing asthma or COPD.
Patients who were prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists were found to be significantly less likely to experience acute respiratory flare-ups compared to those on older diabetes therapies like sulfonylureas.
It is suggested by researchers that these drugs may possess anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial to the lungs. However, they emphasize the need for dedicated clinical trials to validate these findings. Alexander Mathioudakis, Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, hailed the results as a potent reminder to consider metabolic health as a fundamental aspect of respiratory care.
Source: ScienceDaily – Ozempic and Wegovy linked to nearly 40% fewer asthma attacks