The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the popular weight-loss drug Wegoby to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease, obesity, or who are overweight.

“Wegovy is also approved for use in the prevention of life-threatening cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease and who are obese or overweight,” said John Sharetz, chief of the FDA’s Division of Diabetes and Obesity. “This is the first weight-loss drug in the world.” Pharmaceutical evaluation and research.

Wegovy made headlines in 2023 after an independent global trial called SELECT demonstrated that the drug significantly reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, the maker of the chemical semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wigovy, said in a press statement that the FDA’s approval for cardiovascular disease is primarily based on SELECT, which shows that the drug reduces risk. The announcement was based on test data. 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events compared to placebo.

Martin Horst Lange, executive vice president and head of development at Novo Nordisk, said in a press statement that the company was “very pleased” with Friday’s announcement.

“SELECT data from Wegovy^® “By reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, we have the potential to address some of the leading causes of preventable death and extend lifespan,” Lange said.

According to the FDA, nearly 70% of adults in the United States are medically overweight or obese, and these conditions increase the risk of premature death and many health problems.

A study published in August and partially funded by Novo Nordisk estimated that Wegovy could prevent as many as 1.5 million heart attacks in the United States over the next 10 years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one person in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease every 33 seconds, and one person has a heart attack every 40 seconds.

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From 2018 to 2019, heart disease cost the United States approximately $240 billion annually in lost productivity due to medicines, medical services, and deaths.

“FDA remains committed to expediting the development and approval of additional safe and effective treatments for adults who are obese or overweight,” Sharetz said.