Scientists suspect the same traits that allow semaglutide to work on the brain's reward system to make people less interested in food could also be harnessed to help people give up addictions to cigarettes, alcohol, and other vices.
Already, some patients who are on Ozempic or Wegovy have reported dialing back on beers, coffee, and smoking.
Scientists have already studied how lab mice taking other GLP-1 drugs are better able say no to cocaine. Researchers are pretty sure that's because GLP-1 drugs are essentially breaking key addiction cycles in the mouse brain.
"Based on what we know about GLP-1, it does make some sense," Novo Nordisk's Executive Vice President of Development, Martin Lange, told Insider.
Semaglutide, he said, like other GLP-1 drugs, acts on areas of the brain that control food cravings, leading people to eat less.
"I think it's fair to speculate that you could have similar effects on craving for tobacco or craving for alcohol," he said.