For example, tamoxifen, created and FDA-approved for use in treating breast cancer, has also shown off-label viability in treating infertility in females. Another example, modafinil, is used as an off-label treatment for depression but is approved for use in various sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and narcolepsy.
Research, such as the study examining Lixisenatide for Parkinson’s, often opens the door for broader uses of specific drugs based on their particular mechanism of action, safety, and effectiveness for more than one disorder or disease.
Study shows promise for future directions, but not without its limitations
The GLP-1 receptor agonist used for diabetes—Parkinson’s in the study—works to treat diabetes by enhancing the action of the naturally occurring peptide GLP-1. This peptide helps the body secrete insulin and inhibits the secretion of glucagon to keep blood sugar at a healthy level. The drug has also been associated with weight loss, much like Ozempic, because of how it controls appetite.
As it turns out, the drug also has neuroprotective properties, which is what researchers are seeing in the study results. Half of the participants, 78 people in total, who were given the drug during the study were no worse off at the end of the 12-month study period, whereas those who took the placebo saw worsened motor skill deterioration. It’s suggested that it all comes down to those commonalities between the two diseases that make the drug transferable.