Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide injection) 2.4mg has demonstrated early protection against heart disease, according to new data from a late-stage study of the GLP-1 receptor agonist.
The phase 3 SELECT trial randomised adults aged 45 years and older who were overweight or obese with established cardiovascular disease (CVD), and no prior history of diabetes over a period of five years, to receive either Wegovy or placebo, both on top of standard of care.
Results from a new analysis of the study, presented at this year’s European Congress of Obesity, demonstrated that Wegovy reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular death and non-fatal heart attacks, by 37% compared to placebo within the first three months.
In the first six months of treatment with Wegovy, the risk of death from CVD was lowered by 50%, and the risk of being hospitalised or needing urgent attention due to heart failure or dying from CVD was cut by 59%.
The analysis also showed that Wegovy protected patients against heart disease before they achieved clinically meaningful weight loss, highlighting that the protection provided by the drug against heart disease is not only related to its effect on weight loss.
The findings follow previous results from SELECT, which showed that treatment with Wegovy over an average of 39.8 months reduced the risk of MACE by 20% compared to placebo.
Lead study author, Jorge Plutzky, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, said: “Building on the landmark SELECT trial, that showed that [Wegovy] decreased heart disease in people with overweight or obesity and high cardiovascular risk, this secondary analysis, indicates that [Wegovy] provides early protection against heart disease, independent of clinically meaningful weight loss.
“[Wegovy] is the only GLP-1 to have shown these early, rapid effects on heart disease, with benefits seen in the order of months, not years – underscoring its important role in clinical practice.”
Heart and circulatory diseases are responsible for more than 170,000 deaths in the UK every year. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing CVD as well as a number of other serious complications, including type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Taken as a solution for injection in a pre-filled pen, Wegovy is already authorised in the EU and US alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in certain individuals. In the US, the drug is also indicated to reduce the risk of MACE in adults with established CVD who are either obesity or overweight.