A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Irvine, and partially funded by Novo Nordisk suggests that the weight loss injection Wegovy, a blockbuster drug from the Danish pharmaceutical company, could potentially prevent around 1.5 million heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events in the U.S. over a span of 10 years. This research is complemented by Novo Nordisk’s recent findings from a large clinical trial that indicated Wegovy reduced the risk of serious heart problems and heart-related deaths by 20%.
The study focuses on the potential health benefits of Wegovy beyond its primary function of weight loss. Researchers examined overweight or obese patients, both with and without established cardiovascular disease. The results imply that drugs like Wegovy could have substantial positive effects on cardiovascular health.
The projection was based on Novo Nordisk’s STEP 1 trial, which demonstrated that Wegovy helped patients shed 15% of their body weight and improved various cardiovascular risk factors. The study suggested that about 43 million Americans could no longer be classified as obese after a decade of Wegovy treatment, and around 83 million Americans without established cardiovascular disease could experience heart health benefits. The drug was projected to reduce the risk of serious heart problems by 17.8% in this population, equating to approximately 1.5 million preventable cardiovascular events.
Wegovy, alongside Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic, has generated significant interest in the weight loss industry due to its effectiveness in helping patients lose weight. These drugs belong to the GLP-1 agonists class, which mimics gut-produced hormones to suppress appetite. However, Novo Nordisk has encountered supply constraints leading to shortages of both drugs and reports of unintended side effects, including suicidal and self-harm thoughts among some patients. Despite these challenges, the study underscores the potential broader health benefits of Wegovy beyond weight loss, which could influence insurance coverage and treatment adoption in the future.
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