Getting us closer to understanding GLP-1s’ heart benefits, a post hoc analysis of the SELECT trial suggests that Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) significantly reduces a patient’s MACE risk in just three months of treatment.
- Semaglutide’s CV event reduction indication already comes from the SELECT trial which supported its FDA approval and payor reimbursement
- Prior to its cardiovascular approval in March 2024, semaglutide was already approved for diabetes (Ozempic) and weight loss (Wegovy).
- However, it’s unknown if semaglutide leads to these results due to weight loss or a real cardiac benefit.
Researchers analyzed the SELECT trial data by looking at CV events in the first three to six months following semaglutide treatment for obesity, and found that the drug significantly lowered a patient’s MACE and CV mortality risk – even before major weight loss occurred.
- Patients on Wegovy had a 37% lower risk of MACE after the first three months.
- They also faced a 50% lower risk of CV death after six months.
- Semaglutide also lowered composite heart failure risk by 59% and reduced all-cause death by 40% after six months.
While the data doesn’t provide any insights into how these benefits occurred, researchers did note that “there was early reduction in heart disease events observed with semaglutide prior to what is typically considered significant weight loss.”
- Some researchers suggest this means patients who are obese with established CVD should start semaglutide as soon as possible.
- But these results also mean semaglutide could help people who are not obese lower their risk of MACE or CV mortality since the benefits appear weight-independent.
The Takeaway
This sub-analysis confirms that semaglutide‘s cardiac benefits happen quickly and build-up over time, with the eventual extra weight loss further intensifying them. That said, we still don’t have a clear answer on why this happens until semaglutide is tested on CVD patients without obesity.
