Ozempic and asthma: what the new 40% study found

Semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy, was linked to nearly 40% fewer asthma attacks in UK health records, according to findings the European Respiratory Society released on September 8, 2026. It is not approved to treat asthma. If you already qualify for it through your weight or type 2 diabetes, compare what 26 programs charge.

What the study found

Researchers at Imperial College London ran four parallel studies on UK electronic medical records. Each one included 20,000 to 22,000 people who started either a GLP-1 drug or a sulfonylurea, an older diabetes pill. People with asthma or COPD on a GLP-1 had fewer attacks and flare-ups than similar people on the older drug.

Chloe Bloom, the clinical associate professor who led the study, said the link was strongest for semaglutide, especially in people with asthma. Semaglutide was also linked to 20% fewer COPD flare-ups. Dr. Bohee Lee presented the work at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona.

The study compared health records and did not randomly assign the drugs, so it shows an association.

Can you get semaglutide for asthma?

Insurance plans review semaglutide under its approved uses, so asthma alone will not get it covered. The Ozempic label lists type 2 diabetes, and the Wegovy label lists weight management, heart risk and one form of fatty liver disease. Our insurance guide explains how prior authorization and appeals work.

Bloom said people with asthma or COPD "should not start GLP-1 receptor agonists specifically for their lung condition outside current prescribing guidance." If you already qualify and have asthma, take the study to your prescriber.

What semaglutide costs without insurance

Brand-name Wegovy and Ozempic sell for cash through Novo Nordisk, the maker, and through telehealth programs. Telehealth programs also sell compounded semaglutide, a pharmacy-made version that is not FDA-approved and is not Wegovy or Ozempic. The price chart lists what each program charges a month, all in, checked September 7, 2026.