George Frey | ReutersAn older, once-daily drug for diabetes and obesity from Novo Nordisk called liraglutide may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by protecting patients' brains, according to data from a mid-stage trial released on Tuesday. Novo Nordisk sells liraglutide as a diabetes and obesity drug under the brand names Victoza and Saxenda, respectively. Alzheimer's disease often causes the brain to shrink as the illness progresses because crucial nerve cells break down and stop working properly. By 2050, the number of Alzheimer's patients is projected to rise to almost 13 million in the U.S. The ongoing EVOKE is examining semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, in nearly 2,000 Alzheimer's patients.

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Persons: George Frey, Eli Lilly, liraglutide, Brian B, Bettencourt, Heather Snyder, Leqembi, Snyder, Dr, Paul Edison, Edison, Bobby Pugh, Bessie Pugh, Karen Pulfer Focht Organizations: Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical, Reuters, Novo Nordisk, Imperial College London, Alzheimer's Association International Conference, Toronto Star, Getty, Alzheimer's Association, U.S, CNBC, Alzheimer's, Novo Nordisk's, Ave Locations: Provo , Utah, Danish, Philadelphia, Biogen, Novo, Bartlett , Tennessee, U.S