Obesity drug cuts risk of heart problems by 20%

US New research shows obesity drug Wegovy can reduce the risk of serious heart problems by 20%, paving the way for applications beyond weight loss.

The results of a large-scale clinical trial were presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting on November 12 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Michael Lincoff, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic and lead author of the study, said that in addition to reducing body weight, the drug may also reduce cardiovascular events.

The study involved 17,600 people from 41 countries. The patients were aged 41 or older, had a history of cardiovascular disease and a body mass index of 27 or higher, and did not have diabetes. The volunteers were divided into two groups, half of whom received placebo injections, the other half weekly Wegovy injections. All were followed for more than three years.

Results showed that in the group taking Wegovy, 6.5% of volunteers died of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular-related causes. This number was lower than 8% in the placebo group. People who received Wegovy lost an average of 10% of their body weight, maintaining that weight throughout the trial.

Obesity drug Wegovy. Photo: Novo Nordisk — Obesity drug Wegovy. Photo: *Novo Nordisk*

Wegovy users also had significant improvements in inflammation, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, said Dr. Martha Gulati, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

According to the report, volunteers experienced side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These are common reactions to obesity drugs. In addition, the drug is quite expensive. Monthly costs range from about $1,300 if used properly.

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes Wegovy, has asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add cardiovascular benefits to the drug's label, similar to that of Ozempic.

Ozempic is a lower-dose version of Wegovy, which has also been shown to reduce the risk of serious heart disease in people with diabetes. The new study is groundbreaking, as the scientists focused on volunteers who did not have diabetes.

Thuc Linh (According to NY Post )

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