GLP-1s like Ozempic may cut serious infections, including TB

Researchers at Mount Sinai found that people on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro — had fewer serious infections, including tuberculosis, than those on other diabetes meds. The effect was strongest in people with diabetes, who are the group most vulnerable to infection.

The drug works by slowing stomach emptying and suppressing appetite. It also appears to quiet systemic inflammation, which is what may be shielding these patients. The Mount Sinai team looked at real-world data from over 100,000 people and found a 16% drop in serious infections overall, with the biggest savings in the diabetic group. That's a meaningful signal — not a cure, but a clue about how GLP-1s affect the immune system.

This is still early. The study is observational and can't prove GLP-1s are causing the drop. Researchers are now testing whether the anti-inflammatory effect holds up in clinical trials. But the finding flips the usual narrative: these drugs aren't just for waistlines. They may be quietly reshaping how we think about infection risk, especially in people with diabetes who already carry a high baseline risk.

Why this matters for us: Brown communities carry a heavy diabetes burden — and that means a heavy infection burden too. If GLP-1s are doing more than dropping pounds, that's a conversation we need to have about who gets access and who gets the full benefit.