Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) best known by its brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, has already reshaped the treatment landscape for type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, compelling new data suggest that its therapeutic potential could extend far beyond metabolic disease and into the biology of ageing.
A recent randomised-controlled trial led by diagnostics company TruDiagnostic offers the first clinical evidence that semaglutide may slow biological ageing. The study examined 108 individuals with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy, a condition known to accelerate cellular ageing. Participants receiving Ozempic weekly over 32 weeks exhibited an average biological age reduction of 3.1 years, as measured by epigenetic clocks – tools that track DNA methylation patterns correlated with cellular ageing. The anti-aging effects weren’t uniform across all organs and systems of the body. The most significant effects were observed in the brain and inflammatory system, where biological ageing appeared to be slowed by as much as five years.
A Broader Anti-Ageing Mechanism
Although the study focused on a specific patient population, the biological pathways modulated by semaglutide such as inflammation and metabolic regulation are not unique to HIV. This raises important questions about whether GLP-1RAs might be repurposed more broadly as geroprotective agents.
Indeed, a growing body of evidence suggests these drugs act on core mechanisms of ageing. Emerging data show that GLP-1RAs reduce systemic inflammation, enhance immune surveillance, protect against vascular ageing, and improve cellular resilience. Findings presented at the European Congress on Obesity have demonstrated that GLP-1RAs elicit anti-cancer effects independent of weight loss, halve the risk of death from heart attacks, prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation, and may even slow cognitive decline. These benefits cannot be fully explained by weight loss alone. Instead, they point toward a broader role for semaglutide and related compounds in preventative medicine, potentially benefiting individuals without obesity or overt metabolic disease.
Towards Preventative Use in Midlife and Beyond
A growing pipeline of clinical research is exploring the potential of semaglutide in specific age-related indications. These include the ongoing Phase 3 “EVOKE” and “EVOKE+” trials assessing efficacy in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, and the landmark SELECT trial, which demonstrated a significant reduction in major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, and death from cardiovascular causes, among those treated with semaglutide.
Alongside these, the growing evidence base of GLP-1RAs’ broader effect on biological aging is fuelling debate around the use of the drugs as a form of preventative medicine in midlife, akin to the widespread use of statins or blood pressure medication. New developments may help to support the case for preventative use. Oral GLP-1RA formulations, such as Eli Lilly’s Orforglipron, offer a more convenient mode of administration, while clinical research into microdosing strategies aim to find dosing regimes which preserve the metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits of these drugs without affecting appetite or quality of life. Importantly, work is also underway to develop adjunct therapies that could counteract the loss of muscle mass sometimes observed with GLP-1RA use.
Implications for Longevity Stakeholders
For longevity-focused biotech companies and investors, the emerging evidence for GLP-1RAs’ anti-ageing effects is particularly significant. Repurposing existing approved drugs offers a faster route to market, de-risks development, and reduces regulatory burden. This is especially valuable in a field where long clinical timelines and a lack of validated biomarkers remain key challenges.
The successful repositioning of a blockbuster drug like such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, for use across multiple age-related conditions could serve as a strategic blueprint for other programmes in the longevity space. Demonstrating that an established drug can yield measurable geroprotective effects and have a broad profile of therapeutic effect may help to build investor confidence and de-risk development for other molecules with similar mechanisms of action.
From an intellectual property perspective, this trend opens up important opportunities to expand and diversify existing patent portfolios. We may see increased activity around second-generation patents covering new dosing regimens (such as microdosing), innovative formulation strategies, and combination therapies specifically tailored to age-related indications. In parallel, there is likely to be growing interest in companion diagnostics designed to identify individuals most likely to benefit from GLP-1RA-based interventions, particularly where patient stratification by biological age or epigenetic profile could enhance clinical outcomes.
Taken together, these developments suggest that GLP-1RAs, as well as representing a therapeutic advance, could also act as a commercial catalyst for the broader longevity sector.
