Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Cuts Cardiovascular Risk by 57% vs. Zepbound

Novo Nordisk (NVO.US) recently unveiled data from a real-world study that underscores the substantial cardiovascular benefits of its leading weight loss medication, Wegovy (semaglutide). The study, titled STEER, revealed that at a dosage of 2.4 mg, Wegovy significantly reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, or all-cause mortality, by 57% compared to Eli Lilly's (LLY.US) similar drug, Zepbound (tirzepatide). For all patients undergoing treatment, the reduction in cardiovascular event risk was 29%.

The research was conducted using data from over 20,000 patients aged 45 and above who had cardiovascular diseases, recorded in the Cerner HealthFacts database from 2016 to 2024. All participants were overweight or obese individuals without a history of diabetes. Ludovic Helfgott, Novo Nordisk's head of product strategy, highlighted that this study provides the first evidence confirming the clear cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 class drugs for non-diabetic obese patients with cardiovascular diseases.

The average follow-up period for the Wegovy group was 8.3 months, while for the Zepbound group, it was 8.6 months. Both groups demonstrated sustained effects of the drugs in real-world applications. Currently, Wegovy is approved in the United States and the European Union for both obesity treatment and reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in overweight or obese adults with cardiovascular diseases. This new data could further solidify Wegovy's leading position in the GLP-1 weight loss drug market and provide a new treatment option for millions of obese patients with cardiovascular diseases worldwide.