GLP-1 meds may be jacks of all trades

"Jack of All Trades" was released on March 6, 2012 by Bruce Springsteen. You may not be familiar with this song unless you are a true fan of The Boss. This song is considered in the folk-rock genre and was on his 17th album. Jack of all trades is a saying implying someone who has skills in different areas. The newer GLP-1 medications may qualify as such. The GLP-1s include semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and the combination of GLP-1/GIP drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Studies are evaluating their potential benefits beyond managing diabetes and weight loss. These areas include rheumatic disease, cancer and addiction. Rheumatic diseases include gout, varying types of arthritis, lupus, and fibromyalgia. The impact of rheumatic diseases has led researchers to look at new treatments. A recent study evaluated the benefit of GLP-1s specifically in psoriatic arthritis but considered other rheumatic diseases. The researcher acknowledged obesity as a risk factor psoriatic arthritis and making it difficult to maintain a treatment response. The thought behind using GLP-1s is they help manage obesity, but GLP-1s provide additional anti-inflammatory properties. The reduction in inflammation and swelling provided by GLP-1s provided benefit in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. More research is needed. A study published in JAMA Network looked at how GLP-1s can help prevent cancers linked to obesity. The study involved people with type 2 diabetes who had no history of cancer. They were treated with either a GLP-1, insulin, or metformin during the study, which are used for treating diabetes. The researchers focused on 13 different obesity-associated cancers, including esophageal, colon, pancreatic, gallbladder, kidney, liver, ovarian, and skin cancers. The study reported those taking GLP-1s had a lower risk of developing some of these cancers compared to those taking insulin or metformin. GLP-1s were better at reducing the risk of cancer for 10 out of the 13 cancers. Although more research is needed on how the use of GLP-1s can reduce the risk of cancer, the study is a blueprint for future research. It is important to note this study focused on preventing cancer, but not the impact GLP-1s may have on existing cancers. This means although the medication may help lower the risk of obesity-related cancers, losing weight and managing diabetes plays a role in reducing these cancers. From 2020 to 2021, there was a 16% rise in drug overdoses in the US and 178,000 Americans are estimated to die each year due to excessive alcohol consumption. With this rise in cases, researchers are diving deeper into finding alternative treatments for substance use disorder (SUD). SUD may be an addiction related to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or other substances. One of the medications being researched is the GLP-1s. Multiple studies have evaluated the potential impact on SUD. One study in 2024 reported individuals given a GLP-1/GIP showed significantly lower rates of opioid overdose and alcohol intoxication compared to those with no medication. It is thought these medications impact the brain's processing for rewards and motivational behaviors. Another study discussed how individuals afflicted with SUD use multiple substances at one time. This, along with limited treatments for each specific substance, makes it difficult to find a treatment for each patient. With the use of GLP-1s, the hope is the impact on reward processing may help to better manage multiple SUD with one medication. While GLP-1s or GLP-1/GIP may not be a cure all, they seem to be a jack of all trades! Katie (Prater) Kirby is a student pharmacist at Ohio Northern University.