Weight-loss drugs show signs of slowing biological aging, say drugmakers

Weight-loss drugs, such as Eli Lilly's semaglutide and Novo Nordisk's semaglutide, appear to slow down biological aging, according to research presented at an aging research conference. These drugs, known as GLP-1s, reduce biological age by an average of two to three years, as measured by molecular aging clocks. Novo Nordisk's Nikolaj Roed said that patients taking these drugs had reduced biological age when compared to those taking a placebo.

Steve Horvath, a UCLA professor who invented aging clocks, called the findings "a pretty strong effect" and suggested that GLP-1 drugs could be considered "geroprotectors," medications that slow or reverse biological aging. GLP-1 drugs work by stimulating a receptor that tells the brain you're not hungry, leading to weight loss.

However, real-world studies have shown that these drugs also improve kidney function, reduce blood pressure, and decrease the overall risk of death. Alejandro Aguayo-Orozco, a Novo Nordisk senior scientific director, indicated that semaglutide could be an "anti-aging drug" for an unhealthy population. The findings add to the growing belief among scientists that GLP-1 drugs might be a true longevity treatment.