Heart Health Boost: Wegovy Weight Loss Drug Tied to Reduced Risks, Manufacturer States

Wegovy, an obesity treatment, reduced the chance of serious cardiac problems by 20%, the company reported on Tuesday. These findings may put enormous pressure on insurers to cover the increasingly well-liked medication.

The first study to demonstrate that obesity medications can target cardiovascular health in addition to weight loss, involving over 17,600 adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease, was a landmark study.

Manufacturer Novo Nordisk released a press statement that solely included the top-line data. Later this year, a scientific conference will feature a presentation of the complete findings from the SELECT experiment, according to the business.

However, the outcomes could be very important for the business and other producers of medicines in the same class. Wegovy is a diabetes drug that was authorized for weight loss in 2021, but its fame skyrocketed after videos of famous people using it went viral on TikTok. 

Wegovy and its sibling drug Ozempic have been refused coverage by private insurers and Medicare because they are regarded as lifestyle or cosmetic medications rather than necessary. 

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Wegovy’s High Price Hinders Patient Access

Despite being prescribed off-label as an anti-obesity medication, Ozempic is only licensed as a diabetes treatment. Semaglutide is the active component in both medications. 

However, the trial findings show that obesity therapies can also enhance health, making it difficult to refuse coverage. Wegovy’s advertised price of roughly $1,400 makes it unaffordable for many patients.

Semaglutide 2.4 mg has been shown to have the ability to alter how obesity is perceived and treated in the landmark SELECT trial.

The experiment began in 2018, however the business made no mention in the press release of the amount of weight that trial participants dropped or whether it was sustained throughout the course of the five-year study.

It’s also not obvious whether the heart advantages came from the weight decrease or something else. According to Novo Nordisk, the medicine seems to be safe and well tolerated, which is consistent with what was observed in prior clinical trials. 

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