Wegovy Offers Early Heart Protection in High-Risk Patients, Study Finds— GLP-1 drug from Novo Nordisk shows rapid cardiovascular benefits in people without diabetes.
A new analysis of a major clinical trial has found that Wegovy, a GLP-1 drug developed by Novo Nordisk, can provide early protection against heart disease in adults who are overweight or obese and have existing cardiovascular conditions — even before they experience significant weight loss.
The findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025) and come from the phase 3 SELECT trial, which followed participants over a five-year period.
The study involved adults aged 45 and older with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) but no prior history of diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either Wegovy (semaglutide) or a placebo, alongside standard medical care.
According to the new analysis, Wegovy reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) — such as cardiovascular death and non-fatal heart attacks — by 37% within just three months of starting treatment, compared to placebo.
Further benefits were seen in the first six months. The risk of death from cardiovascular disease was cut by 50%, and the likelihood of hospitalisation or urgent care due to heart failure or death from CVD dropped by 59% among those taking Wegovy.
Crucially, these cardiovascular benefits appeared before patients achieved clinically significant weight loss, suggesting that the drug’s protective effects are not solely dependent on its weight-reduction capabilities.
“These results build on the landmark SELECT trial,” said Dr. Jorge Plutzky, lead author and cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. “They show that Wegovy provides rapid protection against heart disease in people with overweight or obesity and high cardiovascular risk — independent of weight loss.”
He added: “Wegovy is the only GLP-1 medication that has demonstrated these early, fast-acting cardiovascular benefits.
The effects appear within months, not years, which highlights its potential role in clinical care.”
The new analysis follows previous results from the SELECT trial, which showed that over an average of 39.8 months, Wegovy reduced the risk of MACE by 20% compared to placebo.
Heart and circulatory diseases remain a leading cause of death in the UK, claiming over 170,000 lives each year. Obesity is a well-established risk factor for heart disease and is also linked to serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Wegovy is administered once weekly via a pre-filled injection pen. It is already approved in both the European Union and the United States for weight management, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. In the U.S., it is also specifically approved to lower the risk of MACE in adults with obesity or overweight who have existing cardiovascular disease.
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