Company Claims Wegovy Reduces Stroke and Heart Attack Risk
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The results are groundbreaking as they reveal that a medication for weight loss offers therapeutic advantages beyond just reducing body weight.
The renowned obesity medication Wegovy has been revealed by drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk to reduce the risk of cardiovascular incidents, including heart attacks and strokes, by an impressive 20%, as announced on Tuesday.
This discovery stands as a pioneering milestone, showcasing the capacity of a weight-loss drug to deliver medical advantages that extend beyond mere weight reduction.
While the comprehensive trial outcomes from Novo Nordisk are yet to be disclosed, Dr. Shauna Levy, an expert in obesity medicine and the medical director of the Tulane Bariatric Center in New Orleans, suggests that the study's potential impact could persuade insurance companies to cover the costs of this pricier medication.
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She noted that many individuals grappling with obtaining insurance coverage for Wegovy's costly weekly injections, priced at over $1,300 for a month's supply, might find their situation altered due to the compelling findings.
Dr. Levy emphasized the significance of the 20% reduction, stating, "Twenty percent is substantial. The prevailing notion that people primarily seek this medication for cosmetic reasons has somewhat overshadowed the extensive health benefits it can offer."
Cardiovascular disease stands as the primary cause of mortality in the United States. Dr. Holly Lofton, the director of the weight management program at NYU Langone Health and a participant in the Novo Nordisk trial, suggests that the revelation of Wegovy's capacity to mitigate heart risks beyond weight loss might alter perceptions that categorize it as merely a cosmetic drug.
"Due to prevailing biases linked to body weight, its acceptance has been limited," Lofton noted.
The groundbreaking findings originate from an advanced clinical study involving over 17,000 adults aged 45 and above. These participants were administered either a 2.4-milligram dose of Wegovy or a placebo, in conjunction with standard care.
While these individuals had a history of overweight or obesity, as well as pre-existing cardiovascular disease, they lacked any prior instances of diabetes.
Novo Nordisk conveyed that the drug's safety and tolerability profile remained consistent with observations from earlier clinical trials.
The release of these results transpired through a press announcement and has yet to undergo external peer review.
The exact magnitude of weight loss among the participants, however, was undisclosed. Furthermore, whether the cardiovascular advantages arose due to the weight reduction or another mechanism within the drug remains unclear.
Additional information about the trial is expected to be disclosed during Novo Nordisk's earnings call on Thursday.
Novo Nordisk has grappled with meeting the surging demand for Wegovy and Ozempic, an antidiabetic medication often prescribed off-label for weight loss. Both Wegovy and Ozempic share the active ingredient, semaglutide.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that nearly half of all U.S. adults suffer from obesity, a condition associated with heightened risks of ailments such as heart attacks, strokes, sleep apnea, liver disease, and cancer.
Pharmaceutical companies have undertaken rigorous clinical trials to establish that these drugs possess the capability to mitigate the risk of obesity-related health issues.
Levy expressed his perspective: “This marks just the outset. We have only begun to scratch the surface of the health advantages that these medications can offer.”
Despite these advancements, the future coverage of Wegovy by insurers remains uncertain. An AHIP spokesperson, representing the insurance industry, refrained from commenting on this matter.
David Allen, representing AHIP, asserted, “Relying solely on a pharmaceutical company’s press release to gauge the efficiency and lasting impact of a prescription drug is an unfeasible approach.”
Levy indicated that the weight loss induced by the drug might potentially yield benefits akin to those of bariatric surgery, which has demonstrated a capacity to lower the risk of death from conditions like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
However, it's important to note that Wegovy and similar GLP-1 agonist drugs might not be suitable for everyone. Lofton highlighted the potential for significant side effects, including abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and even the possibility of pancreatitis being linked to Wegovy.
The company disclosed its intention to request the Food and Drug Administration's inclusion of cardiovascular benefits on Wegovy’s prescription label later within this year.
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