For the first time in Australia, a weight loss drug has been approved to also treat cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese patients. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted approval for semaglutide 2.4 mg (sold as Wegovy) to be used as a complementary therapy for reducing major adverse cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack), or non-fatal stroke.
The approval follows findings from the SELECT trial, an international 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 percent in people with pre-existing heart disease who were overweight or obese but did not have diabetes.
Available to comment:
Professor Stephen Nicholls
Lead of the Australian arm of the SELECT trial,
Director, Victorian Heart Hospital, Monash Health
Director, Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University
Contact: +61 3 9903 4840 or media@monash.edu
- Heart health generally
- The importance of heart health checks
- Know your numbers – why heart disease can be a silent killer
- Cholesterol as a risk factor for heart disease
- What our genetics can tell us about our heart
- Clinical research, novel imaging and trials
The following can be attributed to Professor Nicholls:
“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. 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.”
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