Novo Nordisk's popular weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) has shown in the latest large-scale clinical trials to effectively alleviate symptoms in heart failure patients with diabetes, further supporting the potential of Wegovy in treating obesity-related diseases.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last Saturday reported that patients using Wegovy experienced significantly reduced fatigue, decreased leg swelling, improved breathing, and walked a longer distance in the 6-minute walk test compared to the placebo group. Additionally, these patients reported fewer severe health issues.
This study is one of the latest outcomes in a series of large trials conducted by Novo Nordisk, aiming to validate Wegovy's effectiveness in treating various obesity-related health issues including osteoarthritis and cardiovascular diseases. Novo Nordisk hopes to leverage these research findings to persuade cost-conscious insurance companies to cover the monthly cost of around $1350 for the drug.
The heart failure study published this week focused on &#34;heart failure with preserved ejection fraction&#34; - a condition where the heart's lower chambers fail to pump enough blood to the body. In the United States, approximately 3 million people are affected by this condition, with a global estimate of up to 32 million patients. According to a review in JAMA last year, the annual mortality rate of this disease is around 15%.
Novo Nordisk first disclosed preliminary results of the heart failure study when releasing its fourth-quarter financial report in January this year. The trial targeted obese but non-diabetic heart failure patients. The results of the two trials have been submitted for review to regulatory authorities in the United States and Europe in January

Further supported the potential of Wegovy in treating obesity-related diseases

Novo Nordisk: "Weight-loss miracle drug" Semaglutide can alleviate heart failure symptoms in diabetic patients