GLP-1 receptor agonists

Young people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, the class of drugs that includes Ozempic and Wegovy, are showing nutritional deficiencies, according to coverage in medical news outlets. The reports add to ongoing scrutiny of the drugs' safety in children and adolescents, with clinicians urged to monitor patients' nutrient intake while on the medications.

The American Academy of Optometry's 2026 meeting will feature discussions on GLP-1 receptor agonists and ocular health, examining how widely used weight-loss and diabetes medications may affect patients' eyes. Eye care professionals are expected to review emerging evidence on potential ocular side effects and clinical considerations as prescriptions for drugs like semaglutide continue to grow.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Nature tested safiglipron, an oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, in people with early type 2 diabetes. Unlike injectable GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide, safiglipron is taken as a pill, which could make treatment easier to access. The publication is drawing attention as drugmakers race to develop oral alternatives to popular injectable weight and diabetes medications.