Wegovy Linked To Lower Heart Risks Than Similar Drugs, Study Shows
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3, 2025 — The weight-loss drug Wegovy may lower the risk of heart attack, stroke or death more than similar medications, according to new research from its maker, Novo Nordisk.
In a study of more than 21,000 patients with obesity and heart disease but no diabetes, those taking Wegovy — which contains the active ingredient semaglutide — saw a 57% greater reduction in heart-related risks compared to people taking tirzepatide, the ingredient in Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound.
The findings were presented at a medical conference and have not yet been peer-reviewed or published. As such, they should be regarded as preliminary.
“This data confirms that semaglutide stands apart as the only available GLP-1-based medication with proven cardiovascular benefits for people living with obesity and cardiovascular disease, without diabetes," Ludovic Helfgott, Novo Nordisk’s head of product and portfolio strategy, said in a news release.
The real-world study looked at medical records rather than results from a controlled clinical trial.
Patients taking 2.4 mg of Wegovy had 15 cardiovascular events — about 0.1% of participants — compared with 39 events (0.4%) among those taking tirzepatide when treatment lasted more than 30 days, the study found.
Even when researchers included patients who paused their medications for more than 30 days, Wegovy users still saw a 29% lower risk of heart attack, stroke or death compared with those using tirzepatide.
The results were presented Sunday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid.
As of Monday, Eli Lilly had not yet responded to the findings, The Wall Street Journal said.
Sources
- Novo Nordisk, news release, Aug. 31, 2025
- The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 1, 2025
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2025
Read this next
Study Casts Doubt on Use of Beta Blockers Post-Heart Attack, Especially for Women
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3, 2025 — A drug commonly prescribed to heart attack survivors may not benefit many of them, a new clinical trial has found. Beta-blockers do not appear to...
Heart Failure Strikes Black Americans Almost 14 Years Earlier Than White Americans
TUESDAY, Sept. 2, 2025 — Disparities in education and access to insurance mean that heart failure hits Black American adults nearly 14 years earlier than it does white...
Shingles Vaccine, Shingrix, Might Protect Against Heart Attack, Stroke
FRIDAY, Aug. 29, 2025 — The shingles vaccine not only protects against the painful skin infection, but also might provide heart health benefits, a new study says. Shingles...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.