Novo’s Diabetes Drug Shows Mixed Results in Alzheimer’s
- Victoza didn’t improve brain metabolism versus a placebo
- Cognition slowed 18% less in patients on the drug for a year
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Novo Nordisk A/S’s diabetes drug Victoza yielded mixed results in a mid-stage study of Alzheimer’s disease, failing to meet its primary goal while showing hints that larger trials of similar drugs may be successful.
While researchers have long focused on the toxic clumps of amyloid that build up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, elements of diabetes such as insulin resistance and difficulty processing glucose in the brain may also contribute. Drugs to address those issues, such as the popular GLP-1s that have been embraced for diabetes and weight loss, may be helpful.