WEGOVY - A Weight Loss Drug That Also Cuts Heart Attack Risk
At the recent American Heart Association meeting, medical professionals gathered in anticipation as Dr. A. Michael Lincoff from the Cleveland Clinic unveiled the results of a groundbreaking clinical trial involving the weight loss drug semaglutide, commercially known as Wegovy. The findings, presented on November 11, revealed that Wegovy reduced the risk of major cardiovascular problems by an impressive 20% and decreased the overall mortality risk during the approximately 40-month study period.
Semaglutide, initially designed to treat diabetes and obesity, had previously demonstrated cardiovascular benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes. However, this new study focused on overweight or obese patients with cardiovascular disease, marking the first time semaglutide has shown potential in improving the heart health of non-diabetic individuals. Tiffany Powell-Wiley, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, emphasized the significance of this expansion, as over 6 million people in the United States alone are overweight or obese and have cardiovascular disease but not diabetes. Semaglutide could potentially be a game changer for this demographic.
However, Powell-Wiley and other experts at the meeting cautioned against viewing Wegovy as a panacea for the global obesity epidemic. While the results are promising, there is still limited data on the drug's effectiveness in a diverse population. Moreover, Wegovy does not address the underlying societal, environmental, and social factors contributing to obesity.
Semaglutide belongs to a growing family of drugs used to treat obesity. In November 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tirzepatide, a relative of semaglutide marketed as Zepbound. Semaglutide, sold as Ozempic, was initially introduced as a diabetes treatment in 2017. Since then, its range of applications has expanded to include reducing cardiovascular risk in individuals with diabetes and heart disease, as well as obesity treatment with the higher-dose Wegovy.
Lincoff's semaglutide trial, named SELECT, involved over 17,000 participants, half of whom received weekly semaglutide injections for roughly three years, while the other half received a placebo. The study concluded with the placebo group experiencing nonfatal strokes, heart attacks, or cardiovascular-related deaths in 8% of cases, compared to 6.5% in the semaglutide group, a statistically significant reduction. Amit Khera, a cardiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, underscored the importance of finding new treatments for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of global mortality. He noted that despite the modest numerical difference, this result is substantial for patients with heart disease.
While the cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide are evident, there remains uncertainty about how the drug works and for whom it is most effective. Participants on semaglutide were more likely to discontinue the trial due to gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, although serious issues like cancer or infection were less common in the semaglutide group.
One intriguing finding was that semaglutide's protective effects on the heart became apparent early in the trial, before significant weight loss occurred. This suggests that semaglutide may directly enhance heart health, in addition to its weight loss benefits.
However, one notable limitation of the study is its lack of diversity. The majority of participants were white (84%), and 72% were male. This raises concerns about the drug's effectiveness in populations that are disproportionately affected by obesity, such as African-American, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities.
In conclusion, Wegovy, the weight loss drug derived from semaglutide, has shown significant potential in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes in overweight or obese individuals with cardiovascular disease, regardless of their diabetic status. While these results are promising, further research is needed to understand the drug's efficacy in a more diverse population and to explore the mechanisms behind its cardiovascular benefits.
출처 : 스피쿠스
기사 제목: WEGOVY 웨고비 - 임상 시험 결과를 발표
최근 미국 심장 협회 회의에서 클리블랜드 클리닉의 A. 마이클 린코프 박사는 체중 감량 약물 세마글루티드(상품명 웨고비)에 대한 혁신적인 임상 시험 결과를 발표했습니다. 이 연구는 당뇨병 환자가 아닌 과체중 또는 비만 환자에게서 심장 건강 개선 가능성을 보여주었습니다. 웨고비는 주요 심혈관 문제의 위험을 20% 감소시켰고, 약 40개월 간의 연구 기간 동안 전체 사망 위험도 줄였습니다. 하지만 이 약물이 모든 인구에게 효과적인지는 아직 불분명하며, 이 연구는 대부분 백인 남성 참가자로 이루어졌기 때문에 다양성이 부족합니다.
단어 학습:
- Semaglutide (세마글루티드): 당뇨병과 비만 치료에 사용되는 약물. 예문: "Doctors often prescribe semaglutide to patients with type 2 diabetes to improve their blood sugar levels."
- Cardiovascular Disease (심혈관 질환): 심장과 혈관을 포함한 순환계 질환. 예문: "Regular exercise and a healthy diet are important for preventing cardiovascular disease."
- Obesity (비만): 과도한 체지방으로 인한 건강 상태. 예문: "Obesity is a growing concern worldwide, often leading to various health complications."
- Placebo (플라시보): 무효 약물 또는 치료. 예문: "In the clinical trial, half of the participants were given a placebo instead of the actual medication."
- Diversity (다양성): 인종, 성별, 문화 등에서의 다양한 특성. 예문: "Increasing diversity in clinical trials is essential to ensure the effectiveness of new drugs across different populations."
영어 표현:
- Reduced the risk (위험을 줄이다): 이 표현은 의학, 건강, 보험 등 다양한 분야에서 자주 사용되며, 특정 조치나 치료가 위험을 감소시키는 효과를 나타낼 때 쓰입니다.
- 예문: "Regular exercise has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease."
- Game changer (게임 체인저, 혁신적인 변화): 어떤 상황이나 분야에서 중대한 변화를 일으키는 요소나 사건을 의미하는 데 사용됩니다. 이 표현은 비즈니스, 스포츠, 기술 등 다양한 분야에서 사용됩니다.
- 예문: "The introduction of electric vehicles was a game changer in the automotive industry."
