2024-03-11 12:34:07
Not only against fat deposits, but also against heart attacks: the Wegovy slimming injection can apparently do more than expected. Now she has received an important approval.
The slimming injection Wegovy from the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent heart attacks and strokes in high-risk patients. The approval could lead to more people being reimbursed for the cost of the drug by their health insurance companies.
“A big step forward”
The FDA said Wegovy is now used to “reduce the risk of fatal cardiovascular events, heart attacks, and strokes in adults with cardiovascular disease and who are obese or overweight.” is permitted. This is an important step for public health, said FDA representative John Sharretts. Because these patients have a higher risk of serious cardiovascular complications. “Offering a treatment option that has been proven to reduce this risk is a major step forward.”
Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which has a positive effect on cardiovascular diseases. Semaglutide works like the hormone GLP-1 and lowers blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin production. It also suppresses appetite and slows stomach emptying. A study with more than 17,600 participants (age 45 years and over and body mass index at least 27) showed a reduction in cardiovascular disease by taking semaglutide.
20 percent fewer fatal cardiovascular events
A total of 1,270 major cardiovascular events occurred during the five-year study period. The results showed a 20 percent reduction in the incidence of heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular failure in the semaglutide-treated group.
So far, most health insurance companies in the USA refuse to cover the costs of medications that are only approved for weight loss. With additional FDA approval, this could change and the number of people whose health insurance pays for Wegovy could increase. In Germany, however, it remains to be seen whether the slimming injection can also be used to treat heart disease.