NOVO Nordisk on Wednesday announced that Wegovy (semaglutide injection) is now approved to reduce the risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction in adults with established cardiovascular disease and BMI equal to or greater than 27 kg/m2. It is the first Health Canada approved treatment to support both chronic weight management and to reduce the risk of non-fatal MI.
The prevalence of obesity, which increases the risk of serious chronic illness including heart disease, has grown over the last two decades. According to self-reported data from the 2022 Canadian Community Health survey, close to one in three Canadian adults are living with obesity. Canadians living with obesity are more than twice as likely to have heart disease than those with a healthy weight.
Myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack, is the most common manifestation of ischemic heart disease. In Canada, heart disease is the second leading cause of death and a leading cause of hospitalization. It’s estimated that 9 in 10 Canadians have at least one risk factor for stroke, heart disease, or vascular cognitive impairment including: sex, age, diabetes, family history and Indigenous, South Asian and African family heritage. On average, men are two-times more likely than women to suffer a first acute myocardial infarction, and the incidence is steadily increasing across Canada.
Health Canada’s non-fatal MI indication for Wegovy is based on results of the Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People with Overweight or Obesity (SELECT) trial.
“As a national lead investigator for the SELECT trial in Canada, and a cardiac surgeon, I can attest to the ongoing recalcitrant risk of myocardial infarctions in individuals living with overweight or obesity. This burden not only impacts their prognosis but also places a significant cost on healthcare systems,” said Dr. Subodh Verma, internationally renowned cardiac surgeon-scientist and Professor at the University of Toronto.
“The introduction of semaglutide 2.4 mg as the only therapy proven to reduce non-fatal myocardial infarctions in patients living with overweight or obesity without diabetes is a remarkable breakthrough. These data mark a new era in the treatment of obesity, shifting the focus from viewing it merely as a risk factor to recognizing it as a critical therapeutic target. This is a great advance and a pivotal moment for patients, representing a crucial step toward reducing the risk of first or recurrent heart attacks in this population.”
Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes: A. Michael Lincoff, M.D., Kirstine Brown-Frandsen, M.D.,
