First Cardiovascular Risk-Reducing Weight Loss Drug Unveiled

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First Cardiovascular Risk-Reducing Weight Loss Drug Unveiled

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First Cardiovascular Risk-Reducing Weight Loss Drug Unveiled: SELECT Trial Data Reveals Semaglutide’s Potential

This week, Novo Nordisk announced the primary cardiovascular outcomes of the anti-diabetes/anti-obesity drug semaglutide from the SELECT trial.

Over a five-year follow-up period, semaglutide demonstrated a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) risk compared to the placebo among adult overweight or obese patients.

Until now, no approved weight management drug has been able to provide a concurrent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events while aiding in weight loss. Researchers suggest that this could potentially revolutionize preventive cardiology practices.

Semaglutide belongs to a novel class of long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs.

It stimulates insulin secretion, slows gastric emptying, increases satiety, reduces appetite, and diminishes sugar intake and absorption to control blood sugar and aid in weight loss.

Unlike similar drugs requiring daily injections, semaglutide offers convenience with just one injection per week.

In previous clinical trials, semaglutide exhibited remarkable weight loss effects, rightfully earning it the moniker of a new-generation “miracle drug” for weight loss.

In 2021, results from the Phase 3 clinical study of semaglutide were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial spanning 68 weeks, overweight or obese patients treated with semaglutide experienced a weight reduction of 12.7 kg (12.4%) compared to the placebo group.

SELECT is a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of semaglutide 2.4 mg/week alongside standard treatment, compared to placebo, in preventing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in individuals with confirmed cardiovascular disease (CVD) but no history of diabetes, who are overweight or obese.

The trial enrolled 17,604 participants aged 45 or older with a BMI ≥ 27.

The primary endpoint was defined as the composite outcome of the first occurrence of MACE, including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke.

During the study, there were a total of 1,270 MACE events, with the semaglutide treatment group experiencing a 20% reduced risk compared to the placebo group.

The complete data from this study is yet to be fully disclosed and is expected to be revealed later this year.

Obesity stands as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Weight loss can lead to improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and more.

Moreover, research indicates that GLP-1 analogs can enhance fatty acid metabolism and reduce inflammation, implying additional cardiovascular benefits beyond weight loss.

Dr. Micheal Blaha, Clinical Research Director at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at Johns Hopkins University, stated in Nature, “This may be the most significant study in my field over the past decade,” emphasizing the impact on challenging-to-treat cardiac metabolic risks.

Dr. Martha Gulati, Director of Preventive Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, mentioned, “Aside from statin medications, it’s hard to imagine another drug showing such profound effects.”

Researchers assert that the results of the SELECT trial could redefine semaglutide as a cardiovascular disease medication, potentially enhancing its acceptance as a long-term treatment.

On the other hand, this research outcome could also broaden the prospects for other GLP-1 analogs.

Reference:

[1]https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=166301

[2]https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02528-2

First Cardiovascular Risk-Reducing Weight Loss Drug Unveiled

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