In young animals that were treated with both semaglutide and a PGDHi drug, regenerating muscle fiber size was restored, and muscles were stronger after injury compared with mice on semaglutide alone — or even untreated mice. The PGDHi boosted the proliferation of muscle stem cells and restored their ability to generate new muscle fibers. But when the researchers gave young, healthy mice PGDHi on its own, it had no effect on muscle strength, confirming that in young […]

Once viewed as insulin’s troublemaking opposite, researchers say glucagon is a key reason experimental new obesity drugs are delivering unprecedented results The weight loss revolution has a surprising new star: glucagon, a hormone that has lived in insulin’s shadow. For nearly a century, glucagon occupied a familiar role in biology textbooks. Insulin lowered blood sugar. Glucagon raised it. But at the American Diabetes Association’s 86th Scientific Sessions, Duke University School of Medicine researcher Jonathan Campbell, PhD, made […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Swapping animal protein for plant protein may be a powerful and underappreciated strategy for weight loss in postmenopausal women—without reducing total protein intake—according to new research published in Menopause. In a randomized clinical trial, women who shifted from animal-based protein to plant-based sources such as soybeans, beans, and grains lost significant weight, even though their total protein intake remained unchanged. “This study challenges the common assumption that protein is all the same,” said Hana […]

Trial details EMBRAZE was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial (NCT06445075) conducted at seven sites in the United States to evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of apitegromab in adults receiving tirzepatide. The trial protocol was approved by Advarra, a central institutional review board (IRB), as well as IRBs at participating sites and adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. IRBs at participating sites included ProSciento CRU (Chula Vista, California); AdventHealth […]

Beyond the widespread attention GLP-1 drugs are receiving for treating obesity, lowering blood sugar and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, emerging research is investigating their other potential impacts — including their effects on aging. Now, a new study provides the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical evidence that semaglutide, a widely used GLP-1 drug, slows down the accumulation of biological aging markers in the DNA of adults with HIV. The study is published in Nature Communications. Researchers at […]

GLP-1 medications are marketed to help you lose weight, but one may be better at it than the rest, according to a new meta-analysis from the University of Georgia. Tirzepatide, better known as Zepbound for weight loss and Mounjaro for treatment of type 2 diabetes, helped patients lose more than 20% of their starting body weight across the reviewed studies. Semaglutide (marketed under the brand name Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda) did lead to weight loss, but it […]

One of the largest real-world studies of people taking GLP-1 medications found women, those without pre-existing conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and behavioral factors such as previously setting a weight goal were the best predictors of total weight loss, according to a study being presented Monday at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill. The scientists believe the findings could help doctors personalize treatment options for weight management. The […]

Healthcare providers, pharmacies, telehealth companies, and healthcare organizations should prepare for the launch of CMS’s Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a new demonstration program that expands access to certain GLP-1 weight-loss drugs for eligible Medicare patients beginning July 1, 2026. The program operates outside the traditional Medicare Part D benefit and introduces new eligibility requirements, provider attestations, prior authorization procedures, claims processing requirements, and pharmacy billing obligations. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge represents one of the most significant federal coverage […]

Amna Nawaz: A growing body of research suggests popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may also help treat or prevent certain cancers. It’s the latest unexpected benefit to be associated with GLP-1s, which are now taken by one in eight American adults. William Brangham has more. William Brangham: The results in these cases come from what are known as observational studies, not more rigorous clinical trials, and researchers say there are still many open questions. […]