Wegovy More Effective for Weight Loss in Women Than Men

Research presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals that Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide) has induced more significant weight loss in women than men with a common form of heart failure.

The data stems from Novo Nordisk’s STEP-HFpEF program, encompassing 1,145 patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) across two clinical trials. The primary objective of these studies was to evaluate the impact of a 2.4-mg dose of semaglutide on health status, particularly via the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ-CSS), and weight loss outcomes.

Approximately half of the participants were women, who initially exhibited higher body mass index (BMI) and C-reactive protein levels, alongside a greater left ventricular ejection fraction. At the beginning of the study, women also reported more severe heart failure symptoms compared to men.

After a 52-week treatment period with semaglutide, both male and female participants saw significant weight reductions. On average, men experienced a 10.2% decrease in body weight, while women achieved a 12.6% reduction. When adjusted for placebo effects, the weight-loss benefits of semaglutide remained more pronounced in women, with an average body weight reduction of 9.6%, compared to 7.2% in men. This gender-specific effect was statistically significant, evidenced by a p-value of 0.006 for the interaction.

Regarding cardiovascular outcomes, the efficacy of semaglutide was comparable between sexes. Improvements in KCCQ-CSS were 7.6 points for women and 7.5 points for men. Additionally, semaglutide significantly enhanced the six-minute walk distance, with no notable differences between genders.

Senior author Mikhail Kosiborod, a cardiologist at Saint Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute, highlighted the importance of recognizing sex-based differences in obesity and related HFpEF. According to Kosiborod, these findings underscore the consistent benefits of semaglutide for both men and women. He noted that obesity and visceral adiposity significantly contribute to HFpEF development and progression, especially in women who constitute the majority of HFpEF patients and experience more severe symptoms and physical restrictions.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that triggers insulin secretion from the pancreas in response to blood sugar levels. It is marketed as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes treatment and as Wegovy for chronic weight management. Novo Nordisk recently expanded Wegovy’s label to include reducing the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Additionally, Novo Nordisk is exploring semaglutide's potential as a kidney treatment. Results from the Phase III FLOW trial showed a 20% reduction in death from any cause among type 2 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease, emphasizing the drug's versatility and potential in treating various conditions.

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