Novo Nordisk ADRs Climb After Study Suggests Its Wegovy Showed Heart Benefits

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Bill McColl
Bill McColl
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Bill McColl has 25+ years of experience as a senior producer and writer for TV, radio, and digital media leading teams of anchors, reporters, and editors in creating news broadcasts, covering some of the most notable news stories of the time.

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Published November 13, 2023
Wegovy

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Key Takeaways

  • Novo Nordisk reported its diabetes and weight-loss drug, Wegovy, helped reduce risks of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease.
  • The drug maker said a Phase 3 trial showed the treatment reduced major adverse cardiovascular events in those with heart conditions and obesity.
  • Novo Nordisk is petitioning U.S. and EU regulators to add the expanded use to the labeling for Wegovy.

American depositary receipts (ADRs) of Novo Nordisk (NVO) edged higher in early trading on Monday after reporting a study showed its flagship diabetes and weight-loss drug, Wegovy, helped reduce risks of heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease.

The Danish company said the active ingredient in Wegovy, semaglutide, showed “a statistically significant 20% risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)” in a Phase 3 study. It added the reductions were seen “consistently across age, gender, ethnicity and starting body mass index (BMI).” Novo Nordisk released the findings at the American Heart Association (AHA) annual Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia, and they were also published in the?New England Journal of Medicine.

Novo Nordisk noted positive results occurred soon after patients were given the medicine, suggesting the effect was faster than would be expected simply from the weight loss provided by Wegovy.

Martin Lange, executive vice president and head of Development at Novo Nordisk, indicated that the results represent a pivotal moment “as we look ahead to a new era of managing obesity and potentially reducing cardiovascular risks.”

The company explained that it has filed for a label update in the U.S. and the European Union (EU) to include use of Wegovy for “risk reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with a BMI of ≥ 27 kg/m2 and established cardiovascular disease.”

ADRs of Novo Nordisk have gained close to 50% so far this year.

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  1. Novo Nordisk. "Novo Nordisk A/S: Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy?) cardiovascular outcomes data presented at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and simultaneously published in New England Journal of Medicine."

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