Wegovy: The Weight Loss Drug with Heart Benefits
A new study presented at the American Heart Association meeting suggests that the weight loss drug Wegovy can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular issues by 20% among overweight or obese people with heart disease. The study, which followed over 17,000 adults for up to five years, is the longest and largest trial of semaglutide, the compound in Wegovy. The drug's potential to not only treat obesity and diabetes but also lower the risk of other serious diseases linked to obesity could drive demand and pressure insurance companies to cover it more broadly. However, questions remain about how the drug helps the heart and its effectiveness in real-world settings with a more diverse patient population.