Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may do more than help patients shed pounds—they could also slow biological aging. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk report that clinical trials show these GLP-1 agonists reduce biological age by roughly two to three years, according to molecular aging clocks.
These clocks measure biological age by tracking DNA or protein changes linked to aging. Novo Nordisk’s data showed that patients taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, experienced a slower rate of biological aging compared to placebo users. The effect varied by organ and clock type, but the company’s findings suggest a meaningful shift in molecular aging.
Researchers presented these results at the Aging Research & Drug Discovery conference, where discussions focused on whether GLP-1 drugs could become the first true anti-aging medications.
Experts acknowledge the results are promising but note potential limitations.
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GLP-1 drugs primarily suppress appetite, but real-world studies show broader health benefits, including improved kidney function, lower blood pressure, and reduced mortality risk. Novo Nordisk’s data now extends these effects to molecular aging markers.
Novo’s study included 10,052 participants, half receiving semaglutide and half a placebo. Blood samples analyzed with proteomic clocks, tools measuring protein levels to predict age and mortality risk, revealed a slowdown in biological aging for those on the drug. Eli Lilly conducted a parallel study with tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), using epigenetic clocks that assess DNA changes. Both companies reported consistent findings: biological aging appeared to slow for users.
If confirmed, these findings could redefine anti-aging research. For decades, scientists debated whether aging clocks, tools estimating biological age, could serve as reliable biomarkers. Now, with drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide demonstrating measurable effects, the field has gained credibility.
The commercial success of these drugs shows their potential. Lilly’s tirzepatide generated over $36 billion in revenue last year, while Novo’s semaglutide followed closely. Their blockbuster status has fueled speculation about anti-aging medicine’s future.
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Alex Zhavoronkov, founder of Insilico Medicine, disclosed at the conference that he has been microdosing GLP-1 drugs despite not being overweight. The question of whether healthy people should use these drugs to slow aging remains open.
Side effects, including muscle loss, add complexity to the discussion. Horvath, the UCLA professor, remains skeptical about benefits for non-obese individuals.
Key questions may soon be answered.
Novo Nordisk’s data revealed organ-specific variations in the drugs’ effects. In some cases, particularly with a proteomic clock focused on heart proteins, biological aging slowed by up to four years. This suggests different tissues respond variably to semaglutide, with some showing more pronounced molecular changes. The company’s analysis also distinguished between epigenetic clocks (tracking DNA changes) and proteomic clocks (measuring protein levels). While both types indicated slowed aging, the extent of the effect depended on the biological system studied.