Novo Nordisk has released data from the SELECT phase 3 trial showing that a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutide reduced the number of hospital admissions as well as the overall length of hospital stay for adults with obesity or overweight with previously established cardiovascular disease and without diabetes.
Semaglutide is the active compound in Wegovy and Ozempic, diabetes drugs that have seen their demand skyrocket since their approval in weight loss management indications. As competition grows among developers of drugs with the same underlying mechanism of action, Novo Nordisk has been exploring the effects of semaglutide on cardiovascular health.
The SELECT study had the goal of evaluating the effects of semaglutide on the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke in obese and overweight patients. These patients are at a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease, which is the cause of death of two thirds of this patient population.
"People with obesity or overweight with established cardiovascular disease and without diabetes are more likely to be admitted to the hospital for events like heart attack or stroke, contributing to reduced patient well-being, higher use of healthcare resources, and disease burden," said Dr. Steven E. Kahn from the University of Washington.
"In the SELECT trial, this cohort of patients had a high rate of hospital admissions, but for those given once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg, we observed significant reductions in hospital admissions and overall time they spent in the hospital. We are pleased to have this analysis that further examines the effects of semaglutide."
The SELECT clinical trial started in 2018 and recruited over 17,000 patients across 41 countries and 800 investigator sites. The study was completed earlier this year with positive results; the new data adds further insights into the beneficial effects of semaglutide on overweight and obese patients with cardiovascular disease.
"We are pleased to continue building on the strong foundation of SELECT trial data that demonstrated the effectiveness of semaglutide 2.4 mg in lowering [cardiovascular] risk in patients with obesity and established cardiovascular disease, and to continue our ongoing commitment to improve the lives of people facing serious chronic diseases," said Michelle Skinner, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Novo Nordisk.
"This new SELECT analysis represents another step forward, exploring how semaglutide 2.4 mg impacted repeat hospitalizations and prolonged hospital stays, which are two pressing issues in terms of healthcare cost and quality."