Ozempic and Wegovy linked to nearly 40% fewer asthma attacks

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-09T13:57:12.938Z • Permanent link

In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have made a remarkable discovery linking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, to nearly 40% fewer asthma attacks. The study, which analyzed data from over 30,000 patients in the United States, found that semaglutide was also associated with about 20% fewer COPD flare-ups. Dr. Paul W. Ehrlich, lead author of the study and a professor of medicine at UCLA, noted that the findings suggest that GLP-1 drugs, such as semaglutide, may offer respiratory benefits in addition to their well-established cardiovascular benefits.

The research was conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The study's results were based on a retrospective analysis of electronic health records from patients who had received semaglutide treatment between 2017 and 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received semaglutide and those who did not. The researchers then compared the incidence of asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups between the two groups over a period of two years.

The findings of the study have significant implications for the treatment of asthma and COPD, two major chronic respiratory diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. Ozempic and Wegovy are already approved by the FDA to treat type 2 diabetes, but the new research suggests that they may also have a role to play in managing asthma and COPD. "These findings are exciting because they suggest that semaglutide may be a valuable addition to our treatment options for asthma and COPD," said Dr. Ehrlich. "We need to conduct further research to confirm these findings, but the potential benefits are significant.

The discovery of the respiratory benefits of semaglutide has the potential to transform the way we treat asthma and COPD. These diseases are major contributors to healthcare costs and mortality worldwide, and new treatments are urgently needed. The fact that semaglutide may offer a new option for managing these diseases has significant implications for companies such as Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, which could see a significant boost in sales. The study's findings also have implications for research communities and policymakers, who may need to reconsider their approach to treating these diseases.

The impact of the study's findings on the healthcare industry is already being felt. Pharmaceutical companies such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are likely to be closely watching the results of further research into the respiratory benefits of semaglutide. Researchers at institutions such as the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of Michigan are already planning studies to confirm the findings of the UCLA-UCSD study. Policymakers, meanwhile, may need to reconsider their approach to regulating the use of semaglutide in the treatment of asthma and COPD.

The discovery of the respiratory benefits of semaglutide is part of a larger trend in the development of new treatments for chronic diseases. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need for more effective treatments for asthma and COPD, and the development of new therapies such as semaglutide reflects this trend. Other companies, such as AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, are also developing new treatments for these diseases, and the market for respiratory medications is likely to see significant growth in the coming years.