Weight‑loss drug semaglutide reduces cocaine use in rats, study finds

A drug ingredient used in popular weight‑loss injections cut cocaine use in laboratory rats by more than a quarter and reduced relapse after a period of abstinence, according to a joint US‑Swedish study published this week.

Researchers reported that semaglutide, a glucagon‑like peptide‑1 (GLP‑1) receptor agonist and the active component in medications marketed as Wegovy and Ozempic, lowered measures of cocaine intake and that animals given the drug following an abstinence interval were about 52% less likely to resume use than animals that did not receive the treatment.

The lead author, Professor Elisabet Jerlhag of the University of Gothenburg, said previous work from her group and others found semaglutide and related GLP‑1 agonists reduced alcohol consumption and craving in both humans and animals, and that the new results "seem to reflect these previous findings on alcohol use." The study team described the experiment as the first to show semaglutide’s potential against cocaine in an animal model.

Investigators cautioned that the experiments were conducted in rats and that the mechanisms by which GLP‑1 agonists may affect stimulant use remain unclear. The report said researchers could not be certain why semaglutide produced the observed reductions in cocaine‑seeking behaviour and emphasized that further work is needed to understand biological pathways and to test safety and efficacy in people.

Experts familiar with addiction research called the findings "very promising" and said the results warrant clinical investigation. Current treatments for stimulant use disorders are limited, and researchers noted that repurposing approved medications could shorten the path to new therapeutic options if human trials confirm benefit and acceptable safety profiles.

Semaglutide is approved for chronic weight management and for blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes at different doses and formulations. Its use has increased substantially in recent years because of its efficacy for long‑term weight loss, but the drug can cause gastrointestinal side effects and requires medical supervision. The authors and external specialists stressed that animal evidence does not establish that the drug will be effective or safe for people with cocaine dependence.

The study, conducted by teams in the United States and Sweden, used behavioural measures commonly employed in preclinical addiction research. The authors called for controlled clinical trials to evaluate whether GLP‑1 receptor agonists can reduce stimulant use and relapse in humans and to determine appropriate dosing, treatment duration and safety monitoring.

If replicated in clinical studies, the researchers and outside commentators said, GLP‑1 agonists could represent a new class of pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders. Until human data are available, clinicians and patients are advised not to use weight‑loss medications off‑label for addiction treatment outside approved research settings.

The paper adds to a growing body of literature exploring metabolic and gut‑brain signalling pathways as potential targets for treating addictive behaviours, but it also underscores the gap between animal models and clinical practice. Regulatory review, large‑scale human trials and longer follow‑up will be required to determine whether the observed effects translate into a safe and effective treatment for people with cocaine use disorder.