Novo Nordisk's Wegovy® cuts risk of heart attack, stroke or death by 57% compared to tirzepatide in real-world study of people with obesity and cardiovascular diseas

Core Insights - Novo Nordisk presented data from the STEER study, showing that Wegovy® (semaglutide 2.4 mg) significantly reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to tirzepatide in patients with obesity and established cardiovascular disease (CVD) without diabetes [1][3][4] Group 1: Study Findings - Wegovy® demonstrated a 57% greater risk reduction for heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related death in patients who adhered to treatment compared to tirzepatide, with 0.1% of events recorded for Wegovy® and 0.4% for tirzepatide [1][3] - In all treated individuals, regardless of treatment gaps, Wegovy® showed a 29% risk reduction for heart attack, stroke, and death from any cause compared to tirzepatide [1][3] - The STEER study adds to the evidence that the cardiovascular benefits of Wegovy® are specific to the semaglutide molecule and not applicable to other GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1-based treatments [3] Group 2: Study Design and Population - The STEER study was a retrospective, observational study evaluating the efficacy of Wegovy® versus tirzepatide for preventing MACE in US adults aged 45 and older with obesity and established CVD without prior diabetes [2][4] - The study included 10,625 participants in each treatment group, with propensity score matching used to ensure comparability between Wegovy® and tirzepatide users [2][4] Group 3: Context of Obesity and CVD - Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, with nearly 21 million deaths annually, and obesity significantly contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality [2] - Despite a decrease in overall cardiovascular mortality, obesity-related cardiovascular deaths have risen, with two-thirds of such deaths linked to CVD [2]