Wegovy's Weighty Impact - 20% Reduced Heart Risks Uncovered in Study

Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness

A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, investigated the potential cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. Notably, Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company responsible for Wegovy and Ozempic, has formally requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend Wegovy's label to include its observed heart benefits, aligning it with Ozempic's labeling. The published study was funded by Novo Nordisk.

The investigation centered on whether semaglutide, having demonstrated cardiovascular efficacy in diabetic patients, could replicate such benefits in individuals without diabetes. The study engaged 17,604 participants aged 45 or older, each with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher and preexisting cardiovascular conditions. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a weekly subcutaneous injection of semaglutide at a dose of 2.4 mg or a placebo. The primary outcome measured was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke.

The findings showed that people taking semaglutide had a notable drop in heart-related issues compared to those on the placebo – 6.5% versus 8.0%. Weight loss emerged as a noteworthy outcome, with participants on semaglutide experiencing a substantial 9% weight loss, while the placebo group showed less than a 1% reduction.

There are discussions within the fitness industry that drugs like semaglutide might boost people's interest in health clubs. A recent survey by Morgan Stanley, released last month, even showed a doubling in the amount of exercise people were doing each week when they started taking weight-loss drugs.

However, it is crucial to acknowledge safety considerations. Adverse events leading to permanent discontinuation of the trial product were higher in the semaglutide group (16.6%) compared to the placebo group (8.2%).

There's a need for further research and regulatory considerations to fully understand and leverage the positive outcomes linked to these drugs. These findings could reshape perceptions regarding the classification of new obesity drugs, emphasizing their medical significance and potentially exerting pressure on health insurers to extend coverage.

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Credit: Novo Nordisk, 2023