Maker of weight loss drug Ozempic plans to study drug’s effects on alcohol consumption

(CNN) – People on the weight loss drug Ozempic say they’ve experienced an unexpected effect: a lessened desire to drink alcohol.

The feeling has been described by thousands of people taking medicines, which are in a class known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Ozempic’s maker, Novo Nordisk, said it intends to study the phenomenon, although cutting the drinking isn’t the study’s main goal.

The company plans to start assessing the effects of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and other medicines, on alcohol consumption in a newly announced clinical trial on alcohol-related liver disease.

The trial aims to enroll about 240 participants and is stated to begin May 20.

Experts said treatment options for people with alcoholism and liver disease are needed.

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