Bins of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain March 8, 2024.
Hollie Adams | Reuters
Sufferers taking Novo Nordisk‘s weight problems drug Wegovy maintained a mean of 10% weight reduction for as much as 4 years, in line with a brand new evaluation revealed Tuesday from the longest scientific trial to this point on the remedy.
The extremely in style drug additionally lowered the danger of coronary heart illness no matter a affected person’s weight, a second evaluation on the identical trial discovered. Each analyses have been offered on the European Congress on Weight problems in Venice, Italy, this week.
The findings make clear the long-term results of Wegovy and add to rising proof of the weekly injection’s broad well being advantages. That would enhance Novo Nordisk’s case for insurers and governments to cowl the pricey however efficient drug.
Insurance coverage protection is proscribed for Wegovy, a part of a category of medicines referred to as GLP-1s. These weight problems and diabetes therapies have soared in recognition during the last yr and work by mimicking a hormone produced within the intestine to suppress an individual’s urge for food. Neither Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly, which has its personal weight reduction drug, have been in a position to produce sufficient provide to satisfy the insatiable demand for his or her therapies.
The 2 analyses construct on knowledge revealed in November from Novo Nordisk’s SELECT trial. The findings from that trial confirmed that Wegovy slashed the danger of coronary heart assaults, stroke and different critical cardiovascular issues by 20% in individuals who have weight problems or are chubby and now have heart problems.
The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration authorized Wegovy for that objective in March.
The SELECT trial, which included greater than 17,000 sufferers from over 40 international locations, examined Wegovy for its cardiovascular advantages.
Contributors weren’t required to trace eating regimen and train as a result of it was not an weight problems examine. Sufferers within the trial misplaced round 10% of their whole physique weight on common after 65 weeks on Wegovy, in line with the primary evaluation revealed within the journal Nature.
Sufferers continued to take the weekly drug over a interval of three years and 4 months and sustained their weight reduction for as much as 4 years. Different analysis has proven that many individuals regain weight after stopping the medication.
The second evaluation confirmed that sufferers within the trial reaped the center advantages of Wegovy no matter their weight after they began on the drug and no matter how a lot weight they misplaced on it.
For instance, the lowered danger of great cardiovascular occasions for these on Wegovy, in contrast with a placebo, was comparable amongst individuals who misplaced 5% or extra of their physique weight, those that misplaced lower than that and even those that gained weight.
The discovering suggests Wegovy helps enhance a affected person’s coronary heart well being by way of strategies past weight reduction, the examine authors concluded.
Notably, the load loss within the trial was lower than the common 15% weight reduction noticed in an earlier examine on Wegovy’s impact on weight problems.
However the researchers within the first evaluation famous that the earlier examine was designed particularly for weight reduction and included structured way of life modifications, akin to eating regimen and train. The inhabitants that examine adopted was additionally completely different from the SELECT trial.
Security outcomes from the 2 analyses have been according to the earlier knowledge from the SELECT trial. Extra individuals on Wegovy than individuals who bought a placebo determined to cease collaborating within the trial due to unwanted side effects.
Sufferers additionally skilled unwanted side effects according to different GLP-1 drugs, akin to nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation.