Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug doesn't slow Alzheimer's decline

Technology Dec 04, 2025

Novo Nordisk's oral semaglutide, a diabetes drug, didn't slow memory loss in early Alzheimer's patients, based on two big trials with over 3,800 people.
The company aimed to go beyond traditional treatments by targeting more than just amyloid in the brain, but is now ending these trial extensions after disappointing results.

Biomarker boost, but no real-life memory gains

Semaglutide did improve some lab markers linked to Alzheimer's—like tau and inflammation—but didn't help people do better on dementia tests compared to a placebo.
Since current drugs only tackle about 30% of disease progression, experts say these biomarker changes could still be useful for future combination therapies and highlight the need for more personalized approaches.