Weight loss drug found to reduce risk of heart attacks, strokes by 20%

A selection of injector pens for the Wegovy weight loss drug are shown in this photo illustration in Chicago, Illinois | File photo by Jim Vondruska/Reuters

As you grow older, it’s less about fitting into your old jeans and more about keeping your health in top shape.

So it comes as a welcome surprise then that obesity drug Wegovy could actually do both—in particular, reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack by 20 percent.

Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk confirmed the results of a large clinical trial of more than 17,000 adults, aged 45 and up, grappling with obesity and cardiovascular issues (but with no diabetes).

Participants took either a 2.4 milligram dose of Wegovy or a placebo on top of the standard care. The verdict? Not only is it “safe and well-tolerated” but those who took the drug exhibited a significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular event risks. That’s 20 percent less likely to experience heart issues.

“People living with obesity have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease but to date, there are no approved weight management medications proven to deliver effective weight management while also reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death,” said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk.

A new study by the maker of the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy found it could lower the risks of serious and even deadly heart problems.

“This could change the way we think about managing obesity in the long term,” Dr. @celinegounder says. https://t.co/Yr7TKxGuQv pic.twitter.com/JEbZGObKMn

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 9, 2023

However, scientists not involved in the trial have yet to look at the results. Novo Nordisk also didn’t disclose how much weight the participants lost, making it unclear if the cardiovascular benefits were from the weight reduction or from some other effects of Wegovy.

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Experts weigh in on Wegovy

Although the drugmaker assured they have plans of sharing more details about their clinical trial, some experts have remarked on the results.

Dr. Holly Lofton, the director of weight management program at NYU Langone Health and one of the experts at the Wegovy trial, said that proof of the medicine’s capacity to reduce heart ailments alongside weight loss may change perceptions on seeing Wegovy as just a vanity drug.

“Because of stigma regarding weight, it’s not well-received,” Lofton said to NBC News.

Furthermore, Dr. Shauna Levy, a specialist in obesity medicine and the medical director of the Tulane Bariatric Center in New Orleans, said that even without the release of the clinical trial’s full details, this might be enough to encourage insurance companies to cover for such an expensive medication.

Owing to its double benefits, Wegovy isn’t cheap. Each 2.4 milligram injection costs $1,349 per package covering a month’s supply. And consumers are currently having a hard time getting this covered under their insurance because as a weight loss pill, it is not a necessary medication.

“Twenty percent is huge,” Levy added. “All of this narrative about people just wanting this for cosmetic reasons, I think, to some degree, has overshadowed all of the health benefits we can get from this medication.”

Talking about stats, almost half of adults in the US (or 41.9 percent in 2017) are dealing with obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And while Wegovy might be a viable treatment for both, there are still some cons to consider. Serious side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and even pancreatitis.

As expected, Novo Nordisk’s stock shares soared by more than 17 percent on Tuesday after they announced the clinical trial findings.