Weight-Loss Injections May Protect Against Obesity-Linked Cancers: Study
Weight loss injections could almost halve the risk of developing obesity-linked cancers, a new study has found. Experts have called the findings transformational, saying these jabs may offer protection and extra benefits other than just weight loss.
The findings were revealed at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2025 conference held in Malaga, Spain, where a group of 54 experts from 12 countries came together to make a joint statement, as per The Guardian. They said that weight loss medicines should be prioritised in future research to determine if they can help prevent cancer.
According to the study, published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine, the researchers examined 6,000 people who had never had cancer before. They either had bariatric surgery or used dulaglutide (Trulicity), liraglutide (Saxenda), exenatide (Byetta), or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs).
The study revealed that people who underwent bariatric surgery lost around twice as much weight as people who took weight-loss drugs. Researchers also said that this surgery reduces the risk of cancer by 30 to 42 per cent.
Researchers believe that these weight loss jabs could bring up a whole new era of preventive cancer treatment.
Professor Dror Dicker from Hasharon Hospital and co-author of the study, said, "New generation, highly potent GLP-1RAs with higher efficacy in weight reduction may convey an even greater advantage in reducing the risk of obesity-related cancers, but future research is needed to make sure these drugs do not increase the risk for non-obesity-related cancers."
Another study, presented at the conference and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, claimed patients who took Mounjaro lost almost 50 per cent more weight than those who took Wegovy.
At the end of the trial, the patients on Mounjaro usually experienced a 20.2 per cent decrease in body weight against those on Wegovy, who experienced a 13.7 per cent fall.
Professor Mark Lawler, an internationally renowned cancer research expert from Queen's University Belfast, said, "While further work is required on how it works, these data raise the intriguing possibility that a GLP-1 jab could prevent multiple cancers in the general population, including common cancers like breast and colorectal, and difficult to treat cancers like pancreatic and ovarian."
The experts from the University of Manchester, supported by Cancer Research UK, are aiming to begin the major clinical trial with tens of thousands of patients within the next three to five years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
17 minutes ago
- Mint
Not Ozempic, in India THIS weigh-loss and diabetes drug from Eli Lilly sees sales jump 60% — what is it?
While rival Ozempic has made international headlines for its weightloss use, in India, sales of weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro, manufactured by pharma giant Eli Lilly, has been the big winner. Largely due to first mover advantage, sales of Mounjaro jumped 60 per cent in May 2025, compared to the previous month, according to a Bloomberg report. Notably, May was the second full month that the tirzepatide injection drug has been available to patients in India, which has the third-highest number of obese people in the world, the report added. According to data from market analysis company Pharmarack Technologies, Eli Lilly sold $1.5 million or ₹ 12.6 crore worth of Mounjaro in India in May 2025. Further, sales of the the US drugmaker's 5 mg version have more than doubled to ₹ 7.5 crore, while revenue from the 2.5 mg version was ₹ 5.1 crore, the data showed. 'The patient number may have actually doubled in May from April. The demand is gradually rising and should continue. Newer patients are being introduced with the lower dose and upgraded to 5 mg injections after four weeks,' Sheetal Sapale, VP of Pharmarack told Bloomberg News. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro is a brand-name subcutaneous injection pen, chemically known as tirzepatide. It is a weekly injectable medication for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It has been approved for sale in India by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Mounjaro is notable for its dual-action mechanism, targeting both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which enhances its effectiveness in managing blood sugar levels. According to a report by Healthline, it works by helping your body to produce more insulin when needed. It also reduces the amount of glucose, or sugar, produced by the liver, and slows down how quickly food is digested. This all helps to lower blood sugar levels and HbA1c. It increases how sensitive your body is to insulin and signals your pancreas to make more insulin after you eat. Mounjaro weekly injection is priced at ₹ 4,375 ($50.67) for a 5 mg vial and ₹ 3,500 ($40.54) for a 2.5 mg vial, its lowest doses, the company told new agency Reuters. Its highest dose is 15 mg. A patient in India may have to spend about ₹ 14,000 to ₹ 17,500 (around $200) a month when taking a weekly dose of 5 mg, subject to doctor's prescription. Biocon on June 3 recieved approval to produce Novo Nordisk's celebrated type-2 diabetes and anti-obesity drug Victoza in India. Victoza is the Norweigian pharma giant's daily dose option for Ozempic, which is administered weekly. 'It's difficult to guide on exactly when Ozempic is coming to what countries,' Camilla Sylvest, executive vice president at Novo Nordisk, said at a briefing in March 2025, addressing a question on the brand's potential India launch. While Ozempic itself has not been launched in India, its patent is quickly approaching patent expiry in January 2026, and India's top generics players such as Cipla, Dr Reddy's and Sun Pharma (besides Biocon) are rushing to develop versions of GLP-1 drugs. The main difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic lies in their active ingredients. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, while Ozempic contains semaglutide, which only targets GLP-1 receptors. According to Goldman Sachs, the market for GLP-1 drugs is expected to reach $100 billion by 2030. In India too, the market is considered to be vast, as the country has around 10 crore people living with diabetes and obesity each, Eli Lilly had said earlier this year. (With inputs from Agencies)
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
Weight loss drugs can double risk of eye disease: Study
Weight loss drugs can double risk of eye disease: Study Credit: Getty Images Weight loss drugs could double the risk of getting eye diseases, a large-scale study has found. The weight loss drugs that belong to the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) can increase the risk of getting age-related eye disease. This eye disease, known as macular degeneration, affects the central vision, primarily impacting older adults with diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are medicines that help the body lower blood sugar levels. They work like a natural hormone called GLP-1, which tells the body to release insulin after eating. What are GLP-1 drugs? These drugs are often used to treat type 2 diabetes and sometimes help with weight loss too. Academics at the University of Toronto examined medical data from more than 1 million Ontario students with diabetes. Nearly all of them were taking semaglutide, a popular diabetes and weight loss drug. The study found that those taking semaglutide for at least six months had twice the risk of developing macular degeneration. As per the study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, diabetic patients who were older and had an even higher risk of developing macular degeneration. "Based on our data, I would advise exercising particular caution when prescribing GLP-1 RAs to older [diabetic] patients or those with a history of stroke," said Marko Popovic, a co-author of the study.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Eye stroke alert: Ozempic linked to rare vision-loss condition
If you're on Ozempic or Wegovy to manage type 2 diabetes—or to shed some pounds—there's something new you should have on your radar. Doctors are now flagging a rare but serious eye condition that might be tied to these meds. And yes, it could mess with your vision in a big way. The condition is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION for short. But you'll often hear it described more simply as an 'eye stroke.' It happens when the blood supply to your optic nerve suddenly drops, damaging the nerve and causing vision loss—usually in just one eye, and often without warning. Now here's the thing: the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has officially listed NAION as a very rare side effect of semaglutide—the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. According to their findings, it affects roughly 1 in 10,000 people. Not exactly common, but not zero either. And some researchers believe people with existing health conditions like type 2 diabetes might face a slightly higher risk. So why does this happen? The exact reason isn't fully nailed down yet, but it's believed that rapid changes in blood sugar (which these medications are known to cause) may play a role. Basically, your optic nerve needs consistent blood flow, and when that gets thrown off—bam, you could end up with NAION. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sanitize & Smooth Clothes Fast with Philips Steamer Philips Garment Steamers Shop Now Undo Here's what to watch out for: Sudden loss of vision in one eye Blurry or dim vision A dark patch or 'hole' in your central vision If any of that sounds familiar—or happens out of nowhere—don't wait it out. Get medical help immediately. Catching it early could make a difference in protecting your sight. So, should you freak out? Not necessarily. The odds are still pretty low, and Ozempic/Wegovy are helping a lot of people manage serious health issues. But if you're already at risk—especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea—it's worth talking to your doctor. Ask about the pros and cons. Don't panic, just be informed. Your eyes are too important to take chances with. If something feels off, trust your gut and get it checked. It's your vision—we're talking about seeing the world clearly, literally. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
