Takeaways
- Novo Nordisk reported that its diabetes and weight loss drug, Wegovy, helped reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular disease.
- The drug's maker said a phase 3 trial showed the treatment reduced major adverse cardiovascular events. in people with heart disease and obesity.
- Novo Nordisk asks US and European regulators to add expanded use to Wegovy's labeling.
Novo Nordisk's (NVO) American Depository Receipts (ADRs) rose slightly in early trading Monday after it released a study showing its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drug, Wegovy, helped reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular disease.
The Danish company said Wegovy's active ingredient, semaglutide, showed “a statistically significant 20% reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)” in a phase 3 study. It added that the Reductions were observed “consistently across age, gender, ethnicity, and baseline body mass index (BMI).” Novo Nordisk released the findings at the American Heart Association (AHA) Annual Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia, and they were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Novo Nordisk noted positive results shortly after patients received the drug, suggesting that the effect was faster than would be expected simply from weight loss provided by Wegovy.
Martin Lange, executive vice president and chief development officer at Novo Nordisk, said the results represent a pivotal moment “as we look to a new era of obesity management and potentially cardiovascular risk reduction.”
The company explained that It had filed an application to update the label in the United States and the European Union (EU) to include the use of Wegovy for “reducing the risk of 39;major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 and established cardiovascular disease.
Novo Nordisk ADRs have gained almost 50% so far this year.
TradingView
Do you have a news tip for Investopedia journalists? Please email us at tips@investopedia.com
Source: investopedia.com