Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Wegovy reduced heart failure-related symptoms in a phase 3 study, the drugmaker said Aug. 25.
About half of heart failure cases are preserved ejection fraction cases, and more than 80 percent of patients with this heart failure are obese or overweight, according to Novo Nordisk. The condition is associated with symptoms and physical limitations affecting daily life, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, reduced ability to exercise and swelling.
After 52 weeks of taking Wegovy (semaglutide) 2.4 milligrams, adults in the study reported 13.3 percent weight loss, and they noted a 16.6-point increase in improvement on their symptoms and physical limitations. The measurement was captured with the patient-reported Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score.
Patients taking the placebo saw an 8.7-point increase.
Novo Nordisk said it plans to file for a broader drug approval label in early 2024.