The drug semaglutide, offered commercially as Ozempic or Wegovy, is popular for assisting individuals lose considerable quantities of weight rapidly. Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has actually authorized Wegovy, the variation of semaglutide presently recommended for weight reduction, for avoiding major cardiovascular conditions in particular individuals who are at high danger.
The FDA's March 8 statement will permit physicians to recommend Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which has a greater optimum dosage of semaglutide than Ozempic does, to individuals who are obese or overweight and have actually had at least one cardiovascular occasion such as a cardiac arrest or stroke. “It opens an entire brand-new group of clients for us,” states Nicholas Marston, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Here's what we understand about semaglutide's results on heart disease and how it may work.
Who's a great prospect for taking the drug to lower heart danger?
The FDA's approval broadens making use of semaglutide to individuals with a BMI of 27 or greater (certified as obese or overweight) with a history of heart occasions. It's unidentified whether the drug would work as well at avoiding cardiovascular illness in individuals with lower BMIs. And it still hasn't been checked in individuals who might be at danger of heart disease however have actually not been detected.
How reliable is semaglutide at avoiding cardiovascular issues?
The FDA based its choice on a 2023 trial called Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People with Overweight or Obesity (SELECT), in which Novo Nordisk checked Wegovy in more than 17,000 individuals. The individuals all had a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or greater. Unlike previous trials of semaglutide, the SELECT individuals did not have a history of diabetes, the illness for which the drug was at first authorized in 2017.
The trial revealed that individuals who took semaglutide lost nearly 10% of their body weight usually compared to individuals who got a placebo. They had a 20% lower threat of cardiac arrest and strokes in the course of about 3 years, along with substantially lower cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Because of these findings, which were released in November, the FDA's choice to authorize the drug for avoiding heart issues “wasn't unexpected at all,” states Joseph Wu, a cardiologist at Stanford University. He states the 20% decrease in threat is remarkable. By contrast, a 2023 trial of another brand-new heart drug, bempedoic acid, discovered a 13% decrease in threat of cardiac arrest and strokes over 3 years. Wegovy might sign up with the ranks of other efficient cardiovascular drugs, such as beta blockers and statins.
Get the world's most interesting discoveries provided directly to your inbox.
How does the drug avoid heart issues?
In basic, semaglutide is believed to trigger individuals to drop weight by binding to a particle on cell surface areas called the GLP-1 receptor, where it simulates an appetite hormonal agent and slows the rate at which the stomach clears. This lowers cravings and triggers individuals to consume less,
