Study reveals that weight loss drugs reduce Covid-19 mortality.

• A new study found that individuals who took the key component of blockbuster weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy were less likely to die of Covid-19 or experience adverse effects from the virus.
• The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) published a crop of studies on Friday indicating that semaglutide may have a wide range of health benefits beyond the previously identified reduction in risk of serious heart events such as heart attacks and strokes.

A new study found that individuals who took the key component of blockbuster weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy were less likely to die of Covid-19 or experience adverse effects from the virus.

Individuals who were already receiving a 2.4 mg dose of the drug semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in pharma titan Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, still had a chance of contracting Covid-19 but had a 33% lower risk of dying from the illness, according to studies published by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) on Friday.

The papers suggest that semaglutide may have numerous health benefits beyond reducing the risk of serious heart events, such as heart attacks and strokes. In an interview with JACC, paper co-author Benjamin Scirica stated that patients in his study experienced a 29% reduction in deaths from non-heart-related causes. He added that weight did not seem to be a significant factor in the findings.

Over 17,600 overweight or obese individuals with heart illnesses, but not diabetes, participated in a large study that ran from before the pandemic until its conclusion.

Studies published by JACC on Friday found that semaglutide improved symptoms related to heart failure, inflammation, and other functions, and reduced deaths among patients with chronic kidney disease.

Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, will benefit from the popularity of semaglutide-based treatments, which has already boosted its value. Despite intense competition in the weight loss market, including from the U.S. and other competitors, Novo Nordisk has risen to become Europe's most valuable company.

The potential for new uses of semaglutide could be unlocked by the discovery of its additional benefits.

In a JACC interview, Harlan Krumholz, a Yale University School of Medicine Professor and JACC editor, stated that he views weight loss as a secondary benefit of certain drugs, emphasizing their primary goal of promoting health.

He stated, "Although I was primarily considering cardiometabolic health, it's possible that semaglutide may have other mechanisms that contribute to our overall health, and this could indicate that it's helping us to withstand the negative effects of the pandemic."

Krumholz nevertheless noted that further research into the impacts of semaglutide was required.

A study by Harvard Medical School this year found that weight loss drugs may increase the risk of a rare eye disease.