These findings have sparked significant interest among physicians and researchers, as Wegovy belongs to the rapidly growing class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. The trial demonstrated that Wegovy could lower the risk of further cardiovascular events in these individuals by 20%. These results were recently presented at the American Heart Association conference in Philadelphia.
Dr. Ania Jastreboff, the director of the Yale Obesity Research Center, highlighted the potential of treating obesity not only for weight management but also for addressing related health issues such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. The study’s results indicate that treating obesity can lead to improved overall health outcomes.
However, a key question remains unanswered: Is Wegovy’s heart benefit solely attributable to the amount of weight lost while using the medication, or does it have other mechanisms at play?
Dr. Amit Khera from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas and Dr. Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley from the National Institutes of Health addressed this question in an editorial published in the New England Journal of Medicine alongside the full trial results. They noted that it is unclear to what extent the trial findings were dependent on weight loss, reductions in risk factors, or other beneficial mechanisms associated with GLP-1 receptor agonism. Despite this uncertainty, they emphasized that we are entering a new era of treating obesity and cardiometabolic risk with a growing array of options.
The approval of Zepbound by the US Food and Drug Administration this week further expands the toolbox for addressing obesity. Zepbound, a drug from Eli Lilly, will directly compete with Wegovy in the market. Both medications have predecessors used for treating type 2 diabetes that contain the same active compounds. Wegovy’s sister drug is Ozempic, both of which use semaglutide, while Zepbound’s counterpart is Mounjaro, utilizing tirzepatide. These drugs are administered once a week as self-administered injections.
GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking hormones that stimulate insulin production, promote feelings of fullness, and reduce appetite. Semaglutide targets GLP-1, while tirzepatide targets both GLP-1 and a hormone called GIP. The growing availability of these drugs offers promising options for addressing obesity and its associated health risks.