Novo Nordisk(US:NVO) Globenewswire·2025-08-31 07:09Core Insights - Novo Nordisk presented data from the STEER real-world study at the ESC Congress 2025, highlighting the cardiovascular benefits of Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) compared to tirzepatide in patients with obesity and established cardiovascular disease (CVD) without diabetes [1][4]. Group 1: Study Findings - Wegovy demonstrated a significant 57% greater risk reduction for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related death compared to tirzepatide in patients without treatment gaps exceeding 30 days [2][8]. - In all treated individuals, Wegovy showed a 29% risk reduction for heart attack, stroke, and death from any cause compared to tirzepatide over an average follow-up of 8.3 months for Wegovy and 8.6 months for tirzepatide [3][8]. - The STEER study adds to the evidence that the heart-protective benefits of Wegovy are specific to the semaglutide molecule and not applicable to other GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1-based treatments [8]. 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 overweight or obesity and established CVD without prior diabetes [6][7]. - The study included 10,625 individuals in each treatment group, with researchers using propensity score matching to ensure comparability between Wegovy and tirzepatide users [7]. Group 3: Context of Cardiovascular Disease and Obesity - Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of disability and death globally, with nearly 21 million deaths annually. Obesity significantly contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality [5]. - Despite a decrease in overall cardiovascular mortality over the past two decades, obesity-related cardiovascular deaths have risen, with two-thirds of such deaths linked to CVD [5].