For the first time in Australia, a weight loss drug has been approved for treating cardiovascular disease (CVD) in overweight and obese patients.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted approval for semaglutide 2.4mg (Wegovy) as an adjunct therapy to reduce major adverse CVD events, including cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attacks, and non-fatal strokes.
The approval follows findings from the SELECT trial, a global study involving more than 17,000 participants across 41 countries, including Australia.
Results published in late 2023 showed that Wegovy reduced cardiovascular events by 20% in people with pre-existing heart disease who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes.
Professor Stephen Nicholls, lead of the Australian arm of the SELECT trial and Director of the Victorian Heart Institute at Monash University, emphasises the significance of the approval.
“This approval highlights the critical role of overweight and obesity as major drivers of heart disease — on par with cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking,” he says.
“It reinforces that these risks can be actively reduced with targeted therapies.
“The SELECT trial demonstrated that the cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide extend beyond weight loss.
“This drug also positively impacts inflammation, blood lipids and blood pressure, which are all crucial in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
“What this tells us is that if you have heart disease and are overweight or obese, not only are you at a higher risk of another cardiovascular event, but that risk can now be significantly reduced.
“This is a groundbreaking result for patients.”
