Study finds popular weight-loss drug may also treat lymphatic disease common among cancer survivors

The lymphatic system is the body’s drainage system: It collects excess fluids from tissue, which then flow into the bloodstream. When the lymphatic system is not draining properly, there’s a risk of lymphedema, a chronic and debilitating disease that commonly causes swelling in limbs and for which there is no approved drug therapy.  

A study from Tulane University, however, has found that a popular weight-loss drug may help the body’s lymphatic system drain more effectively.  

The research, published in the journal Microcirculation, found that semaglutide — one of a group of medications commonly known as GLP-1s — could widen vessels within the lymphatic system, allowing the vessels to move larger quantities of fluid with each contraction. The study could offer insight into how GLP-1s might one day be used to treat lymphedema. Read more.