By Nancy Lapid

May 22 (Reuters) - Widely used GLP-1 drugs for type 2 diabetes such as Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Ozempic may modestly reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers, especially colorectal cancer, according to data released on Thursday ahead of a major medical meeting.

Among more than 85,000 people with type 2 diabetes and obesity treated between 2013 and 2023 and followed for an average of nearly four years, 2,501 obesity-related cancers developed in those taking GLP-1 diabetes drugs, compared with 2,671 such cancers in those treating their diabetes with drugs from a class known as DPP-4 inhibitors.

After accounting for individual risk factors, those taking GLP-1 drugs had a 7% lower risk of developing an obesity-related cancer and an 8% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who took a DPP-4 inhibitor, a brief summary of data to be presented at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago showed.

The effect was only statistically significant in women, researchers said.

Other GLP-1 drugs for improving blood glucose control taken by patients in the study include Eli Lilly’s LLY.N Trulicity and Novo’s Victoza and Rybelsus, among others.

These drugs deliver a lower dose of their main ingredient compared to GLP-1 drugs designed to induce weight loss.

DPP-4 inhibitors include Merck & Co's MRK.N Januvia and Nesina from Takeda Pharmaceuticals 4502.T.

While a modestly reduced risk for 14 obesity-related cancers was evident with GLP-1 drugs, the suggestion of a protective effect was particularly strong for colorectal malignancies.

There were 16% fewer colon cancer cases and 28% fewer rectal cancer cases in the group prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Observational studies like this cannot prove that the GLP-1 drugs caused lower cancer rates.

"These data are reassuring, but more studies are required to prove causation," lead study author Lucas Mavromatis, a medical student at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

((Nancy.Lapid@thomsonreuters.com;))