At the 31st European Congress on Obesity (ECO), Denmark’s pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk (CPH: NOVO-B) presented findings from two studies on its weight loss therapy Wegovy (semaglutide). The data indicated that Wegovy’s weight loss effects can be sustained for up to 4 years, along with cardiovascular benefits, irrespective of the extent of weight reduction.
The studies are extensions of the Phase III SELECT trial, which included 17,604 overweight or obese adult patients from 41 countries/regions. Participants were randomized to receive weekly subcutaneous injections of 2.4 mg Wegovy or a placebo. Notably, these patients had a history of heart disease, stroke, and/or peripheral artery disease but were non-diabetic at the time of enrollment.
Data from the SELECT trial released in 2023 showed that Wegovy treated patients experienced a 20% reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, over a period of more than 3 years, with an average weight loss of 9.4%. The latest findings reveal that Wegovy can facilitate weight loss for more than 65 weeks, with effects enduring for up to 4 years. At 208 weeks, patients in the Wegovy group had significantly greater average weight loss, waist circumference reduction of 7.7 centimeters, and waist to height ratio reduction of 6.9% compared to the placebo group. After 2 years of treatment, 52% of Wegovy-treated patients saw a decrease in BMI category, and 12% achieved a healthy weight. Wegovy exhibited a favorable safety profile, with a lower rate of serious adverse events (SAE) at 33% compared to the placebo group’s 36%.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It was approved for glycemic control in type 1 diabetes in the US and European Union in 2017 under the brand name Ozempic. The drug received approval in China for hyperglycemia in April 2021 and later for weight loss in the US in June 2021 as Wegovy, with the indication also available in the EU and Japan.- Flcube.com
