Novo Nordisk shares rise 3.2% following Wegovy study data release.

Novo Nordisk shares rise 3.2% following Wegovy study data release.

Novo Nordisk's shares surged 3.2% following the release of a real-world study demonstrating that its weight loss drug, Wegovy, significantly outperforms Eli Lilly's Tirzepatide (Zepbound) in reducing serious heart issues such as stroke and heart attack. The study, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025, revealed that Wegovy reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 57% compared to Tirzepatide [1].

The study, known as STEER, evaluated the efficacy of Wegovy versus Tirzepatide for preventing MACE in US adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease (CVD) without diabetes. The primary outcome measure was the revised 5-point MACE, which includes heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure, coronary revascularization, and death from any cause. The study also looked at the revised 3-point MACE, which includes heart attack, stroke, and death from any cause.

The STEER study, a retrospective, observational real-world study, included people from the US Komodo Research database. Each treatment group comprised 10,625 people, and researchers used propensity score matching to ensure both groups were comparable. The average follow-up duration was 3.8 months for the Wegovy group and 4.3 months for the Tirzepatide group.

The findings suggest that Wegovy's cardiovascular benefits are specific to the semaglutide molecule and cannot be extended to other GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1-based treatments. This data confirms that semaglutide stands apart as the only available GLP-1-based medication with proven cardiovascular benefits for people living with obesity and cardiovascular disease, without diabetes.

For investors and financial professionals, the study's results highlight the strategic advantages of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in the obesity-drug sector. The company's ability to leverage real-world evidence for regulatory and commercial differentiation, combined with its strong balance sheet and global distribution network, makes it a resilient long-term play.

References:
[1] https://www.ainvest.com/news/wegovy-cardiovascular-edge-novo-nordisk-buy-long-term-growth-2508/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/novo-nordisk-wegovy-cuts-risk-070900476.html