STAT+: Pharmalittle: Wegovy cuts heart attack risk in milestone trial; AstraZeneca prioritizes U.S. for RSV drug amid surge
Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy notably cut the risk of heart attacks in a landmark trial, affirming it offers health benefits beyond weight loss.
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Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy notably cut the risk of heart attacks in a landmark cardiovascular trial that affirms the treatment offers health benefits beyond weight loss, STAT tells us. In August, the company announced the results of the trial, called Select, found Wegovy reduced the overall rate of major heart problems — heart attacks, stroke, or cardiovascular-related death — by 20%. That finding, which was the primary outcome, was stronger than many were expecting. But details, including risk reductions for each specific heart complication, were not released until Saturday, when they were presented as the first major session of the American Heart Association conference.
Novo Nordisk, which has dominated the diabetes and obesity markets with its blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, now also wants to be a major player in heart disease, STAT writes. The landmark Select trial – which showed Wegovy significantly cut the risk of heart complications – is just one of many efforts by the drugmaker to expand into the cardiovascular space. The company, which for much of its history was singularly dedicated to making insulin and treating diabetes, is also developing several treatments specific to heart disease and is acquiring a medication for high blood pressure.
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