The FDA has approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company, announced on Friday that Wegovy, a weight loss medication, has received approval to mitigate the risk of heart disease.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revised Wegovy's label to indicate that it can now be prescribed to lower the likelihood of heart attack and stroke, according to the company.

This adjustment follows the findings of a late-stage clinical trial involving over 17,000 adults conducted by Novo Nordisk. The trial revealed that Wegovy reduced the occurrence of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, by 20% compared to a placebo. All participants in the trial were either overweight or obese and had a history of heart disease.

Novo Nordisk highlighted that this approval marks Wegovy as the inaugural therapy sanctioned in the United States for weight management alongside reducing the risk of heart disease.

Wegovy comprises semaglutide, the identical active component present in the widely used diabetes medication Ozempic, which is frequently prescribed off-label for weight loss. Both medications are produced by Novo Nordisk.