People on Novo Nordisk's Wegovy maintain weight loss for up to four years, study says

Core Insights - Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy has shown an average weight loss of 10% maintained over four years, along with a reduced risk of heart disease, according to recent analyses presented at the European Congress on Obesity [1][2][3] Group 1: Clinical Trial Findings - The SELECT trial involved over 17,000 patients across more than 40 countries, demonstrating that participants lost approximately 10% of their total body weight after 65 weeks on Wegovy [3] - The drug's cardiovascular benefits were observed regardless of initial weight or weight loss during treatment, indicating that Wegovy may improve heart health through mechanisms beyond weight loss [4] - The weight loss observed in the SELECT trial was lower than the 15% average from a previous study, which included structured lifestyle changes [4] Group 2: Insurance and Market Demand - Insurance coverage for Wegovy remains limited, despite its rising popularity among obesity and diabetes treatments [2] - Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have struggled to meet the high demand for their weight loss drugs, indicating a significant market opportunity [2] Group 3: Side Effects and Safety - Patients experienced side effects typical of GLP-1 medications, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation, with a higher dropout rate among those on Wegovy due to side effects [5]