Popular weight loss drug raises risk of ‘silent' cancer
Ozempic and similar weight loss medications may increase the risk of kidney cancer, according to a major study. However, the drugs reportedly lower the risk of more than a dozen other cancers, suggesting their overall benefit may still outweigh the hazards.
A recent study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual conference in May found that people using popular weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic may have a higher risk of developing kidney cancer, the Daily Mail wrote on Tuesday.
Researchers looked at the medical records from more than 86,000 patients in Florida over a ten-year period. They found 83 cases of kidney cancer among people taking weight loss drugs, compared to 58 cases in a similar group who were not taking them.
The study showed a 33% higher chance of getting kidney cancer for users of these medications. The drugs are part of a group called GLP-1 drugs, which also includes Wegovy and others.
Kidney cancer is known as a 'silent' disease because it often causes no symptoms early on. By the time signs such as blood in the urine, back pain, or a lump appear, it may have already spread, making survival less likely.
Dr. Hao Dai from Indiana University, who led the study, told the Daily Mail on Tuesday that the results do not prove the drugs cause kidney cancer, but he called the findings 'concerning' and said more monitoring is needed.
Although the risk of kidney cancer was seen to rise, the study also found that the same drugs may lower the chances of getting more than a dozen other cancers linked to obesity, including cancers of the uterus and ovaries.
These results support earlier research. A 2023 study of 1.6 million people with diabetes found a 54% higher risk of kidney cancer among those using GLP-1 drugs compared to people using another diabetes medicine called metformin.
Doctors believe the increased risk may be linked to side effects like vomiting and dehydration, which can hurt the kidneys. There is also a theory that the way these drugs work in the kidneys may affect how cells grow.
Ozempic has also been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to help protect kidney function in people with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. In those patients, the drug lowered the risk of serious kidney problems by 24%, according to research.
Medical experts say more research is needed to better understand how these drugs affect long-term kidney health and cancer risk.
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