The FDA approved semaglutide to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight, according to an agency announcement about the new indication. A phase III study of patients with overweight and obesity showed that semaglutide significantly reduced the composite of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke by 20%. In the 3-year study, these major adverse cardiac events occurred in 6.5% of patients on semaglutide compared to 8% of those taking placebo. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, was also previously approved for: weight management in adults with obesity; weight management in children ages 12 and up with obesity; and for treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Losing weight and gaining market traction: Semaglutide had an estimated market value of $110.7 million in 2023 and is projected to reach $142.7 million by 2030.