A new study, published in JAMA, has found that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) – such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro – do not increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
This finding is significant as it addresses concerns raised by earlier studies that suggested a possible association between GLP-1 receptor agonists and pancreatic cancer.
Popularity of GLP-1RA drugs, a class of drugs prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity – has skyrocketed around the world in recent years, with many experts declaring them as ‘revolutionary’ and ‘unprecedented’.
GLP-1RA drugs include semaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide, lixisenatide and tirzepatide.
Ozempic, Wegovy, other GLP-1RA drugs not linked to increased pancreatic cancer risk
The study analysed a large population of nearly half a million people (543,595 adults with a mean age of 59.9) with type 2 diabetes, with a follow-up period of 7 years.
It concluded that GLP-1RA drugs did not increase pancreatic cancer risk compared to basal insulin over a 7-year period. This is particularly important because type 2 diabetes is associated with higher risk of most cancers, especially pancreatic cancer.
The study’s lead author, Dr Rachel Dankner of the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, told MedicalNewsToday.com that her earlier research showed a strong correlation between type 2 diabetes and most cancers, especially pancreatic cancer. For this reason, it was particularly important to ascertain whether drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, such as GLP-1RA drugs, could explain the association.
‘We were especially interested to reveal if there is any association between the incretines like DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1RAs and pancreatic cancer, since early on, when these drugs were just released, there were concerns that they may be associated with pancreatitis and with pancreatic cancer,’ Dankner explained.
‘When you embark on a study with a new question, you try to stay objective and not to expect positive or negative findings,’ she said. ‘Nevertheless, we were happy to find no association between these very important medications and a very aggressive cancer that is causing a lot of suffering and a very high mortality rate. We were also relieved to find out that this association persisted when we accounted for past history of pancreatitis, which is an important risk factor for pancreatic cancer.’
The study’s authors acknowledge the need for further research, particularly longer-term studies. Nevertheless, this latest research should help guide practitioners when prescribing GLP-IRA drugs.
