Five Things to Know About Weight-Loss Drugs and IBD

As gastroenterologists seek better therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), they're closely watching the evolving data on GLP-1 receptor agonists. Could drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) turn the tide against ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease?

Here are five things to know:

Early Data for GLP-1 Drugs in IBD Are Encouraging

Research into GLP-1 medications and IBD is still at an early stage, and gastroenterologists aren't recommending that they be used outside their FDA-approved indications such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

"These drugs should not be viewed as IBD therapies yet," Sailish Honap, MD, MBBS, of St. George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London, told MedPage Today. "However, for patients who already have an approved indication, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes, current evidence supports their use with appropriate monitoring."