Wegovy Weight Loss Drug Reduces Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

The widely used weight loss medication Wegovy has been shown to reduce the likelihood of significant cardiovascular incidents like heart attacks and strokes by 20 percent (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Novo Nordisk A/S: Semaglutide 2.4 mg reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight or obesity in the SELECT trial

Go to source). Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide (sold as Wegovy) is a once-weekly injection used to help in weight loss. In a five-year, double-blinded trial, the company studied Wegovy against placebo in addition to standard of care for prevention of major adverse cardiac events in 17,604 adults aged 45 years or older with overweight or obesity.

The participants had cardiovascular disease (CVD) but no prior history of diabetes. In the trial, semaglutide 2.4 mg also appeared to have a safe and well-tolerated profile.

Elevated Cardiovascular Risk in Obesity

"People living with obesity have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease but to date, there are no approved weight management medications proven to deliver effective weight management while also reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death.

Therefore, we are very excited about the results showing that semaglutide 2.4 mg reduces the risk of cardiovascular events,” Martin Holst Lange, Executive Vice-President for Development at Novo Nordisk, said in a statement.

The findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal, will be presented at a scientific conference later in 2023, the company said. The company added it will file for regulatory approvals to add the cardiovascular benefits to the drug’s prescribing information.

Reference:

1. Novo Nordisk A/S: Semaglutide 2.4 mg reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight or obesity in the SELECT trial - (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/08/2720343/0/en/Novo-Nordisk-A-S-Semaglutide-2-4-mg-reduces-the-risk-of-major-adverse-cardiovascular-events-by-20-in-adults-with-overweight-or-obesity-in-the-SELECT-trial.html)

Source-IANS