Obesity Drug Wegovy Shows Potential in Reducing Heart Disease Risk

Cardiovascular benefits appeared almost immediately after starting treatment.
Novo Nordisk plans to seek expanded US approval for Wegovy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.
Patients taking the highest dose of Wegovy experienced a drop in blood sugar levels and inflammation.
Wegovy reduced the incidence of heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease by 20%.

Novo Nordisk's obesity treatment, Wegovy, has shown promising results in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, according to recent studies. The drug, which is primarily used for weight loss, has demonstrated heart protective benefits beyond its primary function.

The Select trial, which included more than 17,600 adults aged 45 and up with heart disease, revealed that Wegovy reduced the incidence of heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease by 20%. Furthermore, the drug reduced the risk of non-fatal heart attack by 28%, non-fatal stroke by 7%, and heart-related death.

Interestingly, the cardiovascular benefits appeared almost immediately after starting treatment, suggesting that the heart protection was not purely the result of weight loss. However, the trial did not study how semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, might prevent heart disease from happening and only looked at how to stop it from getting worse.

In addition to the heart benefits, patients taking the highest dose of Wegovy experienced a drop in blood sugar levels and inflammation, which are indicators of heart disease. This led to a 20% reduction in cardiovascular events.

Despite the promising results, the high cost of the drug is a barrier to widespread access. Novo Nordisk plans to seek expanded US approval for Wegovy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with a body mass index of 27 or higher and established cardiovascular disease. The company has also asked the FDA to include the heart benefits on Wegovy's label.

The study was paid for by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, which may raise questions about potential conflicts of interest. However, the results of the study are consistent across multiple sources, adding credibility to the findings.


Confidence

95%

Doubts
  • The study was funded by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, which could potentially influence the results.

Sources

91%

  • Unique Points
    • The study was paid for by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (80%)
    • The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group.
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    96%

    • Unique Points
      • The cardiovascular benefits appeared almost immediately after starting treatment, suggesting that the heart protection was not purely the result of weight loss.
      • The trial did not study how semaglutide might stop heart disease from happening and only looked at how to stop it from getting worse.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    95%

    • Unique Points
      • After about three years of follow-up, there were cardiovascular events in 569 participants in the Wegovy group, compared to 701 participants in the placebo group.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    95%

    • Unique Points
      • The company has asked the FDA to include the heart benefits on Wegovy's label.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication

    96%

    • Unique Points
      • The study found that patients taking the highest dose of Wegovy experienced a drop in blood sugar levels and inflammation, which are indicators of heart disease.
      • Novo Nordisk plans to seek expanded US approval for Wegovy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with a body mass index of 27 or higher and established cardiovascular disease.
      • However, the high cost of the drug is a barrier to widespread access.
    • Accuracy
      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
    • Deception (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Fallacies (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication