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.