GLP-1R agonist semaglutide, also known as Ozempic or Wegovy, has been making headlines for its potential in its original market – the treatment of Type 2 diabetes – for its weight loss effects and benefits in other metabolic disorders, and for its possible expansions into new therapeutic areas. Most recently, results from different studies have suggested that semaglutide may improve patient outcomes following brain haemorrhage or stroke. GlobalData estimates that semaglutide’s benefits may be connected to a reduction of inflammation in the body and brain.
As mentioned in GlobalData’s report: GLP-1R Agonist – Label Expansions/Drug Repurposing: Market Overview, Ozempic is currently in Phase II trials for acute ischaemic stroke. Other GLP-1R agonists and combination therapies are in clinical development for other neurological conditions, and many academic studies are currently focusing on the potential use of GLP-1R agonists in stroke to reduce complications and the risk of recurrence altogether. In July 2025, new results have emerged from three studies investigating the use of semaglutide in stroke and brain haemorrhage patients.
A study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison revealed that the chance of surviving after a stroke was higher in patients on semaglutide, and death from stroke was more frequent in the patient group not on a GLP-1R agonist.
Another study by the same university examining a US nationwide sample of hospital records found an association between the use of GLP-1R agonists and a reduction in stroke complications.
A third study by the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston suggested that semaglutide use was linked to a reduced risk of side effects, seizures, future recurrence and death after brain haemorrhage and stroke.
The SELECT trial has demonstrated a clear cardiovascular protection associated with semaglutide use, which could explain its benefits in stroke patients. Furthermore, the occurrence of stroke is linked to metabolic health, inflammation and obesity, so an improvement in these factors can benefit patients likely to experience a stroke or who have done so in the past.
According to key opinion leaders interviewed by GlobalData, the potential of GLP-1R agonists in brain diseases seems to be based on their anti-inflammatory action. Indeed, GLP-1R agonists are known to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin resistance, and it seems that this translates to the brain too, as these molecules can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Cerebrovascular conditions such as stroke and brain hemorrhage appear to benefit from both the cardiovascular benefits and cerebral anti-inflammatory health benefits associated with GLP-1R agonists’ use, on top of the improvement in overall health. Therefore, GLP-1R agonists may successfully penetrate not one but multiple neurological diseases markets, if their effects are proven to be significant and worth the cost of these medicines.