Researchers at Scripps test weight-loss drug for long COVID relief

A new study at Scripps Research is exploring whether popular weight-loss drugs could help ease symptoms of long COVID.

(NBC)- A groundbreaking new study at Scripps Research is exploring whether popular weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound could help ease symptoms of long COVID.

Julia Moore Vogel, Ph.D., MBA, an assistant professor and senior program director at Scripps, says the clinical trial could mark a turning point.
“I really hope this is the first successful clinical trial that can make a big difference for people with long COVID,” said Moore Vogel, who herself has lived with the condition for five years.

Researchers have seen anecdotal evidence that GLP-1 drugs — originally designed for diabetes and weight loss — may also help with other issues, including autoimmune conditions, addiction, and even cancer. “We basically don’t fully understand what is happening with these drugs,” Moore Vogel explained.

The new study will be fully digital, allowing participants to take part from their homes — a crucial detail for those with limited mobility or chronic fatigue. “People can do this from their couch or their bed or wherever they are,” she said.

Everything participants need for the trial will be mailed directly to their homes, and check-ins will take place via video calls. The trial is double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized — meaning neither the participants nor researchers will know who receives the drug or the placebo.

Each participant will wear a Garmin watch to monitor changes in weight, as the drug tirzepatide — used in the trial — typically affects metabolism.

Moore Vogel says the study could pave the way for future research into infection-related illnesses. “If it is successful, we would be interested in expanding to other conditions that are infection-associated,” she said.