The weight-loss drug Wegovy lowers the risk of “adverse cardiovascular events” by 20%, according to data from a major trial shared by the drug’s maker Novo Nordisk Tuesday, causing the company’s shares to surge.
Various packages of the weight-loss drug "Wegovy" from the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk lie ... [+]
In a press release, Novo Nordisk said that a weekly 2.4 milligram dose of semaglutide—the generic name for Wegovy, which is also sold under the name “Ozempic”—resulted in a 20% reduction in heart attacks and strokes.
The trial measured data over a period of five years and involved 17,604 participants aged 45 or older who were either overweight or obese.
The trial also found that the 2.4 mg dosage was “safe and well-tolerated” in line with previous similar trials.
The announcement of the trial results caused the drug maker’s Copenhagen-listed shares to surge by more than 16% on Tuesday, before settling at around 13.4% in the green during afternoon trading.
According to Bloomberg, the result of the trials was better than investor expectations of a 15% improvement.
This is a developing story.