Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Reduces Cardiac Risk by 57% Compared to Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound.

Novo Nordisk's Wegovy reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death by 57% compared to Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound in a real-world study. The study involved over 21,000 patients with cardiovascular diseases and showed that Wegovy had significant benefits over tirzepatida, the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro. The results may boost Novo Nordisk's market share in the weight loss market, which is expected to reach $150 billion by 2030.

Novo Nordisk's (NOVOB.CO) weight-loss drug Wegovy has shown significant cardiovascular benefits in a recent real-world study, potentially boosting its market share in the competitive weight-loss market. The study, presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Madrid, found that Wegovy reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death by 57% compared to Eli Lilly's (LLY.N) tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound [1].

The study involved over 21,000 patients with cardiovascular diseases. The data, gathered from more than 21,000 patients and presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Madrid, also showed a 29% reduction in heart risk and death from any cause in Wegovy users compared to tirzepatide users, regardless of any gaps in their treatment [2].

The findings highlight the unique heart-protective benefits of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, and suggest that these benefits may not be replicable with other GLP-1 drugs. The study's results are significant as obesity-related cardiovascular deaths have been increasing, with two in three obesity-related deaths linked to cardiovascular disease [2].

Novo Nordisk's market position may be strengthened by these findings, as the weight-loss market is expected to reach $150 billion by the early 2030s [2]. The company's global hiring freeze for non-critical job roles and Denmark's economic growth forecast adjustment underscore the competitive landscape in the industry [1].

References:

[1] Reuters. (2025, August 31). Novo Nordisk's Wegovy cuts heart risk by 57% versus rival Lilly weight-loss drug. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/novo-nordisks-wegovy-cuts-heart-risk-by-57-versus-rival-lilly-weight-loss-drug-2025-08-31/

[2] GlobeNewswire. (2025, August 31). Novo Nordisk's Wegovy cuts risk of heart attack, stroke or death by 57 compared to tirzepatide in real-world study of people with obesity and cardiovascular disease. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/31/3141900/0/en/Novo-Nordisk-s-Wegovy-cuts-risk-of-heart-attack-stroke-or-death-by-57-compared-to-tirzepatide-in-real-world-study-of-people-with-obesity-and-cardiovascular-disease.html