: Novo Nordisk says Wegovy reduced risk of adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with obesity in trial

Novo Nordisk’s U.S.-listed stock NVODK:NOVO.B rose 10% premarket Tuesday, after the company said its obesity treatment semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, met its main goal in a trial evaluating its ability to reduce cardiovascular events and not just help with weight loss. The Danish company said a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with overweight or obesity in the trial called Select compared with placebo. “The double-blinded trial compared subcutaneous once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg with placebo as an adjunct to standard of care for prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) over a period of up to five years,” the company said in a statement. The trial involved 17,604 patients aged 45 years or older with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease with no prior history of diabetes. “People living with obesity have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease but to date, there are no approved weight management medications proven to deliver effective weight management while also reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death,” said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for development at Novo Nordisk. The company will apply for regulatory approval for a label indication expansion for semaglutide 2.4 mg in the U.S. and EU in 2023 and will present detailed results at a scientific conference later this year. Wegovy is a once-a-week infection used to treat obesity and diabetes.

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