Biotech
Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 3:08 pm EDT
Key Points
- Patients taking Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy maintained an average 10% weight loss for up to four years, highlighting the drug’s long-term efficacy as demonstrated in the longest clinical trial on the treatment to date.
- A second analysis from the same trial revealed that Wegovy reduced the risk of heart disease irrespective of a patient’s weight, suggesting broad health benefits beyond weight loss.
- These findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity, underscore the potential of Wegovy to address obesity-related health risks, potentially prompting insurers and governments to reconsider coverage for the costly but effective drug.
A new analysis of Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy reveals promising long-term effects, with patients maintaining an average 10% weight loss over four years, the longest clinical trial on the treatment to date. Additionally, a separate analysis from the same trial indicates Wegovy reduces the risk of heart disease, irrespective of a patient’s weight. These findings, presented at the European Congress on Obesity, underscore Wegovy’s potential broad health benefits, potentially bolstering its case for broader insurance coverage. However, insurance coverage remains limited for Wegovy and similar GLP-1 medications, despite surging demand. The analyses stem from Novo Nordisk’s SELECT trial involving over 17,000 patients from 40 countries, focusing on the drug’s cardiovascular benefits. Patients sustained their weight loss over the study period, despite not being required to track diet and exercise. Moreover, Wegovy demonstrated heart benefits regardless of weight changes, suggesting additional mechanisms beyond weight loss contribute to improved heart health. Although weight loss in the trial was less than in previous studies, likely due to different trial designs and populations, the safety profile remained consistent, with side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting reported. These findings highlight Wegovy’s potential as a long-term obesity treatment with significant cardiovascular benefits, addressing a critical need in managing obesity and associated health risks.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/14/wegovy-patients-maintain-weight-loss-for-4-years-novo-nordisk-study.html
