Wegovy Maintains Weight Loss for Four Years in Studies
Novo Nordisk’s widely acclaimed GLP-1 analog, Wegovy (semaglutide), has demonstrated the ability to maintain significant weight loss for up to four years while enhancing cardiovascular health, irrespective of the amount of weight lost. These findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Italy.
The first study, published in Nature Medicine, tracked participants over more than 200 weeks as part of Novo Nordisk's SELECT cardiovascular outcomes study. Results showcased that individuals treated with Wegovy could sustain their initial weight loss over this period. Participants in the Wegovy group displayed a consistent weight loss over 65 weeks and managed to maintain their reduced body weight for four years without experiencing rebound weight gain. On average, these participants lost 10.2% of their body weight, starkly contrasting with the 1.5% weight loss observed in the placebo group. The 8.7% treatment difference significantly favored Wegovy.
SELECT is a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial involving over 17,600 overweight or obese participants without a history of diabetes. The treatment dose of Wegovy was set at 2.4 mg.
Beyond weight loss, the study revealed that 52% of participants treated with Wegovy transitioned to a lower BMI category after two years, compared to just 16% in the placebo group. Furthermore, 12% of Wegovy-treated participants achieved a healthy BMI. Donna Ryan, professor emerita at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and lead author of the study, noted that the significant weight loss observed in such a diverse, large population could potentially alleviate the public health burden of multiple obesity-related illnesses.
Ryan emphasized that while the trial concentrated on cardiovascular events, effective weight management could also benefit other chronic diseases, including certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Ryan has previously served as a scientific advisor and consultant to Novo Nordisk.
The second study presented at the European Congress on Obesity also analyzed data from the SELECT trial, focusing on the connection between weight change and cardiovascular outcomes. The results indicated that treatment with Wegovy improved cardiovascular outcomes regardless of the patients' initial weight or the amount of weight they lost. This suggests that even individuals with mild obesity or those who lose only a modest amount of weight may still benefit clinically from Wegovy.
John Deanfield, professor of cardiology at University College London and lead researcher of the second study, proposed that Wegovy might have additional effects beyond reducing body fat, such as lowering blood pressure, blood sugar levels, or inflammation. Deanfield also speculated that the drug might have direct effects on the heart and blood vessels.
Regarding safety, the proportion of participants experiencing serious adverse events was lower in the Wegovy group (33%) compared to the placebo group (36%), mainly due to differences in cardiac disorders. However, more participants receiving Wegovy discontinued the trial due to gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea during the 20-week dose escalation phase. Additionally, the incidence of gallbladder stones was higher among those treated with Wegovy.
The authors cautioned that SELECT is not a primary prevention trial, and the results should not be generalized to all overweight and obese individuals for preventing major adverse cardiovascular events. They also highlighted the limited representation of racial subgroups in the dataset, which might have unveiled varying effects across different demographics.
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