Clinical trial results show weight loss drug reduces the risk of heart and liver diseases in people with obesity A new analysis of a large international clinical trial has found that semaglutide, a compound used in weight loss medications Wegovy and Ozempic, significantly reduces the risk of major heart events and lowers fatty liver disease risk in adults with obesity and heart disease. The findings, published in the journal Nature Medicine, highlight the drug’s potential to address multiple health complications linked to obesity. Fatty liver disease, a common condition affecting approximately 40% of adults, is closely tied to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. It causes inflammation and scarring in the liver, which can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, or even the need for a liver transplant. The study, led by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and international collaborators, focused on semaglutide’s effects on both heart and liver health. The research builds on earlier work by VCU hepatologist Arun Sanyal, M.D., who co-authored the “Effect of Semaglutide in Subjects with Non-cirrhotic Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis” (ESSENCE) trial. That study demonstrated semaglutide’s ability to improve fatty liver disease and reduce heart disease risk factors. The new analysis, based on the “Semaglutide Effects on Cardiovascular Outcomes in People with Overweight or Obesity” (SELECT) trial, expands on these findings by examining patients with advanced liver scarring. The SELECT trial involved over 17,000 participants across 41 countries and 804 clinical sites. Patients who received semaglutide injections for two years experienced a notable reduction in major heart events, such as heart-related death, heart attack, or stroke, compared to those receiving a placebo.#novonordisk #semaglutide #ozempic #wegovy #virginia_commonwealth_university
