Researchers Probe Ozempic for Addiction Treatment as Type 2 Diabetes Drug Shows Brain-Reward Effects
Updated
Updated · RNZ · Jul 2
Researchers Probe Ozempic for Addiction Treatment as Type 2 Diabetes Drug Shows Brain-Reward Effects
3 articles · Updated · RNZ · Jul 2
Summary
Researchers are examining whether Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs could help treat addiction, extending their use beyond diabetes and appetite control.
Dr Robert Munn of the University of Otago says the interest centers on how the medicines may alter the brain’s reward system, a pathway closely tied to addictive behavior.
Ozempic first gained approval for type 2 diabetes before becoming globally prominent for suppressing appetite and driving weight loss.
The work reflects a broader effort to test whether blockbuster GLP-1 drugs can be repurposed for conditions outside their original metabolic role.