Wegovy cuts the risk of heart disease by 20 percent in obese patients

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer behind the anti-obesity drug Wegovy, recently announced that their drug can reduce the risk of serious heart conditions and cardiovascular death by 20 percent.

• The trial involved 17,604 adults with overweight or obesity who had cardiovascular disease (CVD) but no history of diabetes.
• Being injected with 2.4 mg of semaglutide (sold under brand names Wegovy and Ozempic) once a week reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) for up to 5 years.

The new trial underscores the connection between obesity and heart health. Not just about body fat, it triggers a biochemical cascade associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, and even some cancers.

• Obesity increases the risk of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes, as well as elevated levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, significantly increasing the risk of CVD.
• A survey found that compared to normal-weight adults, 51 percent of obese adults had hypertension, 21 percent had a heart attack, and 8 percent had ischemic heart disease.

It’s not clear how semaglutide reduces the risk of a serious cardiovascular event. These GLP-1 receptor agonists have shown benefits on blood pressure, inflammation, and the inner lining of blood vessels, which could explain the protective effect.

• A question on the long-term efficacy of these drugs still remains unexplored, as studies have previously reported weight relapse in obese individuals when the treatment was stopped.

What’s next: As the full publication of the study follows, Novo Nordisk expects broader approval for Wegovy for treating a number of health conditions. Experts also expect these results to advocate for better coverage of the drug under insurance, as the $1,300-a-month price has kept it inaccessible for many.