Semaglutide 2.4 mg subcutaneously once weekly, a GLP1 receptor agonist, was associated with a statistically significant 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to placebo, according to main results of the randomized, double-blind SELECT trial reported in an August 8 press release .
SELECT included 17,604 patients (age ≥45 years, BMI ≥27 kg/m 2 ) from 41 countries who were overweight or obese with established cardiovascular disease and no history of diabetes.
By randomizing participants to a treatment or placebo group, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of semaglutide 2.4 mg as an add-on to standard treatment for the prevention of MACE.
The primary endpoint of the study was the composite outcome of first-occurrence MACE defined as cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke.
All three components that make up the primary endpoint contributed to the 20% reduction in MACE exhibited in the semaglutide 2.4 mg treatment group. Over a period of up to five years, 1,270 first MACE events occurred.
Semaglutide also appeared to be safe and well tolerated among patients in the SELECT trial, showing consistency with safety results from previous trials.
Marketed by Novo Nordisk as Wegovy, the company says it will apply in the US and Europe for an expanded indication based on these results, noting that more detailed results will be presented at a conference later this year.
