The Growing List of Conditions GLP-1 Medications Treat

By GLPeak Team · 2026-09-01

GLP-1s are for more than just weight loss. From heart health to sleep apnea, discover the new FDA-approved uses for medications like Ozempic and Zepbound.

For most of the past few years, the conversation around GLP-1 medications has centered on two things, diabetes and weight loss. That description is becoming outdated. Over the past two years the FDA has approved these medications for several more conditions, and more decisions are expected before the end of 2026.

A Note on Brand Names First

This gets confusing quickly, so it helps to sort out up front.

Semaglutide is sold under three brand names. Ozempic and Rybelsus are approved for type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is approved for weight management. Tirzepatide is sold as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight management.

The molecule is the same within each pair, but the FDA approves brands, not molecules. That means Ozempic and Wegovy carry different approved uses despite containing the identical active ingredient, which affects what a prescription can be written for and what an insurer is being asked to cover.

What's Already Approved Beyond Weight Loss and Diabetes

Cardiovascular disease. In 2024, Wegovy was approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in adults with established heart disease who also have obesity or overweight.

Obstructive sleep apnea. In December 2024, Zepbound became the first medication approved to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

Chronic kidney disease. In January 2025, Ozempic was approved to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease, kidney failure, and cardiovascular death in adults who have both type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The approval came from the FLOW trial, which followed 3,533 participants and found a 24% relative reduction in those outcomes compared with placebo.

Liver disease. In August 2025, Wegovy was approved for adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH, a form of fatty liver disease involving inflammation and scarring. This one comes with important limits. The approval applies only to people with moderate to advanced liver scarring who do not have cirrhosis, and it was granted through the FDA's accelerated pathway, meaning it was based on improvements in liver tissue rather than long-term outcomes. A confirmatory trial is still running.

What's Under Review

Several decisions are expected this year.

Mounjaro is under review for reducing cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes, with a decision anticipated during this quarter. The application is supported by a trial called SURPASS-CVOT, which followed 13,165 adults who had both type 2 diabetes and established heart disease for a median of four years. Rather than comparing tirzepatide against a placebo, the trial compared it against dulaglutide, an older GLP-1 medication already known to protect the heart. Cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke occurred in 12.2% of people taking tirzepatide and 13.1% of those taking dulaglutide. That result was close enough to show tirzepatide works at least as well as the existing option, though the difference between them was not large enough to demonstrate that it works better. Gastrointestinal side effects were more common with tirzepatide.

Also pending are decisions on an oral orforglipron tablet for type 2 diabetes, a higher-dose oral semaglutide tablet for type 2 diabetes, and Novo Nordisk's combination of semaglutide and cagrilintide for weight management.

Separately, semaglutide is under FDA review for two additional conditions. One is a form of heart failure that commonly occurs alongside obesity. The other is peripheral artery disease, where narrowed arteries in the legs cause pain and difficulty walking.

Why Approved Indications Matter

Insurance coverage for these medications varies widely between plans, and many plans that exclude weight management still cover treatment for specific diagnosed conditions.

When the FDA approves a medication for a new condition, it creates a documented clinical use that didn't previously exist. Insurers frequently structure their coverage rules around approved indications, so a person who doesn't qualify under a weight management policy may fall under a different category entirely if they also carry a diagnosis of sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, or liver disease.

An FDA approval does not obligate any insurer to cover anything, and coverage still depends on the specific terms of a given plan. The approvals do change what documentation is available when coverage is being determined.

The Bigger Picture

What these approvals collectively suggest is that GLP-1 medications are being understood less as weight loss tools and more as metabolic therapies with effects across multiple organ systems. Weight reduction appears to be one outcome among several rather than the sole purpose.

For patients, that reframing has practical consequences. It changes which specialists might prescribe these medications, which diagnoses justify them, and how long-term treatment gets discussed. It also means the question of whether someone qualifies is becoming considerably more complex than a number on a scale.

References:

1. Novo Nordisk. FDA approves Ozempic (semaglutide) to reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. January 28, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-ozempic-semaglutide-as-the-only-glp-1-ra-to-reduce-the-risk-of-worsening-kidney-disease-and-cardiovascular-death-in-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-and-chronic-kidney-disease-302362466.html

2. Perkovic V, Tuttle KR, Rossing P, et al. Effects of semaglutide on chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (FLOW). N Engl J Med. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2403347

3. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves treatment for serious liver disease known as MASH. August 15, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-treatment-serious-liver-disease-known-mash

4. Nicholls SJ, et al. Tirzepatide versus dulaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (SURPASS-CVOT). N Engl J Med. December 17, 2025. https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/journal-scans/2026/01/07/14/20/surpass-cvot

5. Prime Therapeutics. GLP-1 pipeline update: August 2026. https://www.primetherapeutics.com/glp-1-pipeline-update-august-2026

This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Coverage decisions vary by insurance plan. Always consult your healthcare provider about which treatments are appropriate for you.