In a significant clinical trial involving individuals with cardiovascular disease, the weight loss medication, Wegovy, showcased its potential by decreasing the likelihood of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease-related fatalities by 20%. Remarkably, this is the inaugural revelation that a solo weight loss drug can proffer such protective benefits.
The pharmaceutical firm, Novo Nordisk, evaluated Wegovy in a five-year trial named “Select”. The drug was contrasted against a placebo in tandem with the standard care to deter significant heart incidents in 17,604 adults grappling with heart disease, obesity, or overweight conditions but devoid of diabetes.
Previous studies on the type 2 diabetes drug, Ozempic, which also incorporates semaglutide as its component, evidenced a 26% dip in cardiovascular risk. Yet, the current findings are revolutionary as no earlier trial had manifested such risk curtailment in non-diabetic patients.
Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president for development, Martin Holst Lange, emphasized the game-changing implications of the “Select” trial. He touted the drug’s transformative power in reshaping obesity perceptions and treatments.
Although these revelations await further peer reviews and subsequent publication in medical journals, experts speculate a surge in Wegovy’s adoption. This could simultaneously foster better insurance provisions for the drug, which currently costs $1,349 monthly before insurance.
Novo Nordisk has reassured that Wegovy sustained its safety profile in the “Select” trial, echoing outcomes from prior research. The company plans to share more in-depth findings at an upcoming scientific symposium and is gearing to approach regulatory bodies to append the cardiovascular advantages to the drug’s prescription data.
However, experts urge caution and are keenly awaiting comprehensive results to glean a holistic perspective on the trial’s discoveries. As the weight loss medication arena expands, the findings from the “Select” trial hold promise not only for the drug’s efficacy but also for reshaping the healthcare approach towards weight management.
