The company behind Wegovy claims that its weight-loss jab can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events by 20% for those who are overweight or obese.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has stated that Wegovy, which is not currently available in the UK, has been hailed as a miracle drug with regard to weight loss. After one year, patients who received weekly injections of the drug lost an average of 12% of their weight, while those who receive placebos lost only 0.9%.
A study conducted by Novo Nordisk, Select, found that the use of jabs in adults with high obesity or overweight could reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart attack, by 20% over a five-year period.
The risk of cardiovascular disease is higher among people with obesity, and there are no approved weight management medications that can reduce the risk. According to Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk is ecstatic about the results from Select, which indicate that semaglutide 2.4 mg may lower the likelihood of such events.
The study’s findings were not published in a peer-reviewed research paper but rather reported in Novo Nordisk’S press release, leaving the details unrecognized. The extent of their impact was limited to either the direct effects of Wegovy or indirect effects caused by weight loss.
The trial was conducted among 17,604 adults aged 45 and above with a body mass index of 27 or higher. All participants had been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) but had no prior history of diabetes, according to the company.
Participants in the double blind trial were randomly assigned to receive either a weekly Wegovy injection or dietary supplements with varying placebos. The participants were not aware which jab they were taking, and the researchers had no knowledge of their choice.
For a period of up to five years, the team examined outcomes for participants, including cases of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non–fatality stroke. They discovered that recipients who received Wegovy had 20% lower outcomes than those who got fewer benefits.
The drug semaglutide, which is also found in Wegovy and used in Ozempic, has become so popular that it’s been resurged by people with diabetes.
To expand the licensed uses for Wegovy in the US and EU, Novo Nordisk is preparing to seek regulatory approvals.
The UK and European authorities have announced their intention to review drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy due to reports of individuals using them for suicide or self-harm.
The Select trial’s outcomes must be substantiated through peer review, according to Dr Simon Cork, a senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University.
He stated that the results indicated an urgent requirement for Wegovy, a safe and effective drug, to prevent future disease in those with obesity. He added that this would not only save money for health bodies but also improve their quality of life.