The blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy may reduce heart attack and stroke risk by 20 percent among overweight and obese people, according to preliminary data announced by the drug’s manufacturer Novo Nordisk.
This initial evidence suggests that the medication, aimed for obese people who also have weight-related medical problems, offers therapeutic advantages beyond just reducing weight.
Early Trial Data and Results
The SELECT cardiovascular trial involved over 17,600 overweight or obese adults aged 45 or older with a history of cardiovascular disease but not type 1 or type 2 diabetes. For up to five years, participants received either once a week injections of 2.4 mg of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, or a placebo, along with standard cardiovascular care.
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
