Semaglutide Shows Promise in Protecting Against Diabetic Retinopathy

Recent research highlights the potential protective effects of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist commonly used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, against diabetic retinopathy—a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. Presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Vienna (September 15–19, 2025) and published in the journal Pharmaceutics, the study suggests that semaglutide not only manages blood sugar levels but may also offer direct benefits to retinal cells.

Diabetic retinopathy affects over 90% of individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than half of those with type 2 diabetes, resulting from high blood glucose damaging blood vessels in the eye's retina. The condition poses a major public health challenge, with predictions indicating over 191 million affected globally by 2030. Damage is often driven by oxidative stress from free radicals, which attack retinal cells.

The researchers, led by Ioanna Anastasiou from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, conducted laboratory experiments with human retinal endothelial cells exposed to diabetic-like conditions. Cells treated with semaglutide showed significantly higher survival rates and enhanced energy stores. Markers of oxidative stress, including cell death and free radical production, were markedly reduced in these cells. Additionally, genes involved in antioxidant production were more active, suggesting a repair mechanism.

These findings support the idea that semaglutide may bolster retinal cell defenses, shielding them from the oxidative damage typical in diabetic retinopathy. The research also indicates the drug's potential to not only prevent deterioration but possibly repair existing damage, opening new avenues for early intervention.

While clinical trials are necessary to confirm these benefits in patients, the study provides promising evidence that GLP-1 therapies like semaglutide could play a crucial role in preventing or slowing the progression of diabetic eye disease. This dual action—blood sugar regulation and direct eye protection—may help reduce the global burden of diabetic retinopathy in the future.