wegovy approved for lowered risk of heart attack: what it means for people living with obesity and heart disease
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while there are current therapies available for people living with obesity and heart disease, the introduction of a one-step drug for both can make living with both conditions much more manageable, both physically and mentally.
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wegovy, a semaglutide injection produced by novo nordisk, has made waves for its ability to foster weight reduction in people living with obesity. more recently, the drug has been heavily studied for other applications. one such use, non-fatal myocardial infarction or heart attack, is one of those applications.
the drug, which was approved for treating obesity in november 2021 and became accessible to canadians in may 2024, was investigated for its benefits against heart attack in people living with overweight or obesity in the semaglutide effects on cardiovascular outcomes in people with overweight or obesity select trial.
the results of the trial revealed that wegovy reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (mace) in adults with cardiovascular disease and a bmi over 27 kg/m², earning health canada’s approval as a treatment to lower the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction.
“heart attacks have a profound impact on many families across our country. wegovy is a clinically evaluated therapy that offers new hope for canadians living with cardiovascular disease and obesity,” said vince lamanna, president of novo nordisk canada inc., in a press release.
this new indication for an already well-established drug gives patients another tool for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight while improving heart health.
the first health canada-approved treatment for weight and non-fatal heart attack risk management
roughly one in three canadians live with obesity, according to the 2022 canadian community healthy survey. this condition brings on an increased risk for many other harmful conditions, including heart disease, another condition that affects millions of canadians.
along with obesity, there are many other risk factors for heart disease and stroke, including age, sex, other conditions such as diabetes, family history, and cultural and ethnic background. an estimated nine out of every 10 canadians have at least one of these risk factors.
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heart attacks are the most common type of ischemic heart disease, and in canada, they are the leading cause of hospitalizations as well as the second-leading cause of death.
when it comes to obesity, according to the press release announcing the approval, “canadians living with obesity are more than twice as likely to have heart disease than those with a healthy weight.”
current approaches used to prevent heart attacks in people who are at a higher risk include:
- lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise, eating healthier foods, managing weight, and avoiding smoking and alcohol
- managing stress
- using medications such as statins, aspirin, and dual antiplatelet therapy (a combination of aspirin and an antiplatelet drug)
the new approval marks the first of its kind in tackling both obesity and heart health in one medication. with obesity and heart disease closely linked, the use of wegovy in this multipurpose approach will help those living with both conditions improve the quality of their life.
“the introduction of semaglutide 2.4 mg as the only therapy proven to reduce non-fatal myocardial infarctions in patients living with overweight or obesity without diabetes is a remarkable breakthrough,” said dr. subodh verma, cardiac surgeon-scientist and professor at the university of toronto, in the release. “these data mark a new era in the treatment of obesity, shifting the focus from viewing it merely as a risk factor to recognizing it as a critical therapeutic target. this is a great advance and a pivotal moment for patients, representing a crucial step toward reducing the risk of first or recurrent heart attacks in this population.”
what this means for obesity and heart disease patients
while there are current therapies available for people living with obesity and heart disease, the introduction of a one-step drug for both can make living with both conditions much more manageable, both physically and mentally.
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on the physical side, taking wegovy can help those living with obesity reach and maintain a healthy weight. losing weight can reduce the risk of mace, but the drug’s added benefit can perpetuate that benefit even further.
on the mental side, weight loss in those living with obesity, as well as a reduced risk of heart attack, can improve a person’s level of anxiety and stress related to their conditions.
“people deserve evidence-based care to proactively manage this disease, including medical nutrition therapy, psychological interventions, physical activity, pharmacotherapy and surgery,” said dr. sanjeev sockalingam, scientific director of obesity canada, in the release.
overall, wegovy, with its proven effects on both weight management and mace, paints a picture of a future where people can reach and maintain a healthy weight while also improving their heart’s ability to function long term.
the breakthrough aims to put better treatments into the hands of canadians – treatments that have been clinically proven as effective, offering next generation therapies that can continue to better the lives of those living with both heart attack risk factors and obesity or overweight.
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