Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, saw its shares rise by 16% after the announcement of positive results from a five-year study on its obesity drug. The study revealed that the drug, marketed as Wegovy, reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in overweight or obese adults by 20%.
Semaglutide, the active component of Wegovy, proved to have a safe and well-tolerated profile during the trial. Furthermore, it demonstrated a statistically significant and superior reduction in cardiovascular events compared to the control group. The trial involved 17,604 overweight or obese adults over the age of 45 with established cardiovascular disease but no prior history of diabetes.
The results are particularly encouraging as there are currently no approved weight management medications that effectively reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death while managing weight. Martin Holst Lange, the executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk, expressed excitement about these findings, stating that semaglutide 2.4 mg shows promise in reducing cardiovascular events.
Novo Nordisk plans to seek regulatory approvals for an expansion of the label indication for semaglutide 2.4 mg in the U.S. and the EU in 2023. This development opens up new possibilities for individuals struggling with obesity and related cardiovascular risks.
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