Semaglutide use drops asthma attacks by nearly 40 percent

Patients who took the diabetes and obesity drug semaglutide experienced nearly 40 percent fewer asthma attacks, according to research presented on September 9, 2026, at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The active pharmaceutical ingredient, sold commercially under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, also correlated with a 20 percent decrease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease flare-ups.

Professor Chloe Bloom, a clinical associate professor in respiratory epidemiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute within Imperial College London, led the investigation alongside Dr. Bohee Lee, who delivered the data during the medical meeting. The team evaluated whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists offered respiratory relief to individuals managing chronic airway conditions. Previous laboratory evaluations had pointed to potential anti-inflammatory properties linked to these metabolic medications.

The clinical data showed positive changes.

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Key findings from electronic health records in the United Kingdom

To measure the therapeutic influence of the substances outside controlled laboratory settings, the investigators examined primary care and hospital information across electronic health databases in the United Kingdom. Researchers analyzed records from patients dealing with concurrent metabolic issues and chronic respiratory illnesses, contrasting individuals prescribed GLP-1 therapies against subjects placed on sulfonylureas.

The evaluation separated patient files into four distinct study groups to confirm the consistency of the observations across different clinical settings. Each cohort included between 20,000 and 22,000 participants who had initiated pharmacological care for their conditions. The comparative setup allowed the research team to evaluate how distinct classes of diabetes treatments affected pulmonary stability over extended treatment intervals.

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• Semaglutide generated an estimated 40 percent reduction in acute asthma attacks among adult patients.
• Flare-ups related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease dropped by 20 percent in the evaluated cohorts.
• The research structure comprised four separate evaluation groups ranging between 20,000 and 22,000 participants each.

Patients receiving GLP-1 therapies consistently experienced fewer acute respiratory events than those who took traditional sulfonylurea medications across all four evaluated medical cohorts.

Differences observed between GLP-1 therapies and sulfonylureas

Chloe Bloom explained that while GLP-1 receptor agonists serve widely to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, major drug trials historically excluded direct respiratory endpoints such as asthma attacks or COPD exacerbations from their testing protocols. Because metabolic medications rarely assess lung function directly, the research team relied on existing clinical records to monitor acute attacks. Semaglutide demonstrated the most pronounced respiratory effect among all medications in the evaluated class. The protective signal remained prominent in subjects diagnosed with persistent asthma.

Dr. Bohee Lee presented the data to attendees in Barcelona.

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Bloom noted that individuals who already qualify for semaglutide because of existing type 2 diabetes or obesity could potentially gain secondary improvements in their respiratory stability. The presence of GLP-1 receptors in human tissues may explain how these compounds alter inflammatory pathways within airway walls. Despite these observations, medical protocols continue to dictate that patients receive GLP-1 drugs strictly under authorized clinical categories.

Warnings against off-label use for respiratory illness

The academic team advised patients against seeking GLP-1 receptor agonists exclusively to treat respiratory conditions ahead of formal regulatory approvals. Bloom stated that while the findings from the large-scale analysis point to positive respiratory outcomes, the numbers alone do not justify immediate alterations in standard prescription practices for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease outside established metabolic guidance.

“The findings from this study are encouraging, but they should not change treatment decisions on their own,” Bloom said. “People with asthma or COPD should not start GLP-1 receptor agonists specifically for their lung condition outside current prescribing guidance. While the findings suggest that some people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists may experience fewer respiratory attacks, this needs confirmation in clinical trials.”

Calls to include lung endpoints in future metabolic trials

Dr. Alexander Mathioudakis, a senior lecturer in respiratory medicine at the University of Manchester and chair of the European Respiratory Society Group on Airway Pharmacology and Treatment, reviewed the data without participating in the study. Mathioudakis explained that obesity and metabolic dysfunction frequently complicate the management of chronic airway diseases while remaining under-recognized by attending medical staff. He stated that the project represents one of the largest real-world inquiries assessing GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with underlying airway complications.

Mathioudakis added that future metabolic research must integrate structured respiratory measurements to identify whether targeted treatments can improve standard clinical practice. “We need clinical trials that include respiratory outcomes, such as asthma attacks, COPD exacerbations, lung function, symptoms and quality of life, to determine whether metabolic treatments could become part of a broader, more personalized approach to managing airways disease,” he said.

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The European Respiratory Society organized the conference program in Barcelona.