Building trust is key to unlocking the full potential of GLP-1 medications

It took nearly a decade and a half for GLP-1s – glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound – to transform from niche diabetes medications into revolutionary tools in the fight against obesity and other metabolic disorders.

This shift in perception (and therefore, application) was not without controversy, and that controversy is still ongoing in some circles. Yet today, millions of people worldwide are reaping the benefits of GLP-1s, experiencing weight loss and improved health outcomes off the scale than previously thought possible.

Now, emerging evidence suggests GLP-1s may offer even greater potential for a wider variety of healthcare patients, from aiding in memory care to helping address addiction. For the millions of people who could benefit from advanced therapies, this is an incredibly inspiring development.

But we cannot afford to wait another 15 years to bring these benefits to those in need. To unlock the true potential of GLP-1s as quickly as possible to improve and extend the most lives, we must challenge ourselves to build a system of trust and equitable access.

Here’s how we can achieve it:

GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed to manage type 2 diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels, have undergone a remarkable evolution. These medications effectively mimic the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, which helps regulate appetite and digestion.

Over time, scientists and doctors discovered that these drugs also play a significant role in promoting weight loss by limiting appetite and reducing “food noise” – the mental signals we receive that tell us to consume calories.

The journey from diabetes medication to weight loss phenomenon was neither linear nor seamless. Public perception initially resisted the idea of using GLP-1s beyond their original purpose, citing concerns from safety and efficacy to the ethics of weight loss culture.

These debates continue today, yet rigorous clinical trials and real-world data have reshaped this narrative: According to the World Economic Forum, more than 1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity, driving demand for innovative solutions like GLP-1s.

Pharmaceutical companies, medical systems and weight loss programme providers have also highlighted the dramatic results individuals can achieve when such medication is administered appropriately, including significant reductions in cardiovascular risk factors, improved metabolic health and enhanced quality of life.

While GLP-1s are now most well known as catalysts for weight loss success, their potential application extends far beyond the scale. Early research hints that GLP-1s may hold promise in addressing global health issues including those that the World Economic Forum has identified as critical, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

For example, preliminary studies suggest that GLP-1s may improve cognitive function and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by reducing inflammation and improving insulin sensitivity in the brain.

Similarly, these drugs have shown potential in reducing cancer risk by targeting metabolic pathways linked to tumor growth. These findings highlight the urgency of accelerating research and development efforts to unlock these benefits.

The quicker we understand and deploy GLP-1s for broader medical use, the more lives we can transform. But achieving this requires more than scientific breakthroughs; it demands a collective commitment to dismantling barriers to access and building public trust.

Lack of trust is fundamentally what is keeping GLP-1s out of reach for the millions that could benefit from them, because our trust deficit is what inhibits our regulators from considering them for broader use and our medical systems from adopting them.

Several factors contribute to creating this critical gap in trust:

To democratize access to GLP-1s, and lay the groundwork for their expanded use, there is a role for all stakeholders to play in rebuilding trust and ensuring equitable distribution. The path forward requires collective action:

Of course, mistrust isn’t the only thing keeping GLP-1s out of reach of millions: cash flow, research and development issues, the patent process, politics and influence are all elements that collude to create barriers to equitable healthcare and quick-to-market solutions for those in need. But building trust through collective action is a solution that will blunt the effects of these inhibiting forces.

All stakeholders within the healthcare ecosystem must each consider what we can do to create trust within that ecosystem. By prioritizing transparency and ethical practices, we can unlock the full potential of GLP-1s and ensure their benefits are shared widely.

By fostering trust and expanding access to GLP-1s, we can not only address some of the most pressing health challenges of our time but also pave the way for future innovations. The time to act is now – because improving and saving lives shouldn’t have to wait another 15 years.