Novo Nordisk, the corporate behind Ozempic and Wegovy, printed a brand new evaluation of the longest research it has carried out up to now via the lens of long-term weight reduction.
The 17,604-person research, printed in Nature Medication and introduced on the European Congress on Weight problems in Venice, Italy on Tuesday, confirmed for the primary time that weight problems sufferers with out diabetes maintained a ten% common weight reduction over 4 years after taking Wegovy.
“We see that when the vast majority of the load loss is accrued, you do not return and begin to enhance in weight for those who keep on the drug,” Martin Holst Lange, Novo’s growth head, instructed Reuters in an interview.
The findings present that Wegovy is efficient in the long run, over a number of years, supplied sufferers keep on it.
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An extra evaluation launched Tuesday primarily based on the identical information confirmed that Wegovy had advantages for the center, no matter how a lot weight research individuals misplaced whereas taking it.
Wegovy decreased the chance of stroke by 20% in obese or overweight individuals with a historical past of coronary heart illness.
Researchers do not exactly know the way Wegovy’s energetic ingredient, semaglutide, protects the center, and are conducting research to know it.
“We now additionally perceive that whereas we all know that physique weight reduction is vital, it is not the one factor driving the cardiovascular advantage of semaglutide therapy,” Lange instructed Reuters on Tuesday.
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The information might add to Novo’s case to have its weight reduction medicine be extra broadly lined by insurance coverage corporations in international locations just like the U.S. and the U.Okay.
Nonetheless, there have been downsides to taking Wegovy recorded within the report — about 17% of those that took the drug left the research early due to stomach-related points like nausea.
Novo has made Wegovy obtainable in 10 international locations up to now, together with the U.S., Norway, Japan, and Spain, since releasing the drug in 2021. Costs begin at $200 and may attain virtually $2,000 per thirty days, relying on the nation.
Within the U.S., Ozempic goes for about $936 a month out of pocket whereas Wegovy sells for about $1,350 a month.
Costco created a program in April that offers members direct entry to Ozempic and Wegovy when acceptable, although the medicine price falls straight on clients or medical insurance.
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Novo mentioned earlier this month that no less than 25,000 individuals within the U.S. begin Wegovy per week.
