Genetic variants may explain why some individuals respond poorly to GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, such as Ozempic. These drugs are used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Approximately ten percent of the population carries these genetic variants.
Individuals with these variants appear to produce higher levels of the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). However, the hormone does not function as effectively in their bodies. This suggests a form of GLP-1 resistance.
Researchers found that carriers of these variants were significantly less likely to achieve healthy blood sugar targets. This was observed in several clinical trials involving GLP-1 medications. The study focused on blood sugar control. It did not reach firm conclusions about weight loss effects.
Scientists from Stanford Medicine and international collaborators conducted the research. The study involved human and mouse experiments. It also analyzed data from diabetes medication clinical trials. The findings were published in *Genome Medicine*.
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