Blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss medications, Ozempic and Wegovy, are showing promise in delivering a wide range of additional health benefits, according to new research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual meeting in London and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). These medications, which are both versions of the drug semaglutide, appear to reduce the risk of heart failure, lower mortality rates from COVID-19, and decrease overall death rates from various causes.

Semaglutide is part of a drug class known as GLP-1 agonists, which work by mimicking a natural hormone that curbs appetite, reduces hunger, and lowers food intake. The recent findings suggest that these drugs could revolutionize cardiovascular care and provide significant health benefits beyond their current uses for managing diabetes and weight loss.

Dr. Harlan Krumholz, JACC Editor-in-Chief and a professor of medicine at Yale University, emphasized the potential impact of these drugs: "These groundbreaking medications are poised to revolutionize cardiovascular care and could dramatically enhance cardiovascular health."

The latest data stem from several major trials, including the SELECT trial, which involved over 17,000 participants who were overweight or obese and had heart disease but not diabetes. Funded by Novo Nordisk, the maker of semaglutide, the SELECT trial previously found that a 2.4 milligram (mg) dose of semaglutide reduced the risk of heart-related deaths, heart attacks, and strokes.

New analyses from SELECT revealed that semaglutide users had a lower risk of death from all causes compared to those who received a placebo. Additionally, the research indicated that women might experience more significant heart-health benefits from the drug than men, though both genders saw a reduction in heart-related events.

Another significant finding from the research is semaglutide's potential protective effects against COVID-19. In the SELECT trial, participants taking semaglutide were just as likely as those on placebo to contract COVID-19. However, those who did contract the virus were less likely to die if they had been taking semaglutide.

The FLOW trial, another major study funded by Novo Nordisk, focused on more than 3,500 individuals with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. This trial found that semaglutide users had lower rates of kidney-related deaths and were less likely to develop or be hospitalized for heart failure, particularly at a 1 mg dose.

Further supporting these findings, sub-studies from the STEP-HFpEF program examined the effects of semaglutide in obese individuals with heart failure. The drug was found to improve heart failure-related symptoms, enhance physical limitations and exercise capacity, and reduce body weight. Importantly, these benefits were observed regardless of weight loss and were accompanied by reduced inflammation, as measured by levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). The study also showed that semaglutide led to positive changes in the heart's structure and function, especially in patients with the irregular heartbeat condition known as atrial fibrillation (A-Fib).

Dr. Krumholz highlighted the significance of these findings, stating, "This portfolio of publications, derived from three major trials, significantly advances our understanding of the wide-ranging benefits of GLP-1 agonists."

These studies underscore the potential of semaglutide to offer comprehensive health benefits, positioning it as a powerful tool in the management of not only diabetes and obesity but also cardiovascular health and beyond.