EU Backs Use Of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy For Obesity-Related Heart Condition

The European Medicines Agency has backed the use of Novo Nordisk's popular drug Wegovy to help alleviate heart failure in people with obesity, the Danish drugmaker announced, Bhanvi Satija reported for Reuters.

This is the agency's second endorsement of Wegovy for use beyond weight loss. I Photo: Novo Nordisk

This is the agency's second endorsement of Wegovy for a use beyond weight loss, further bolstering Novo's case that the drug offers multiple health benefits. The regulator had previously supported Wegovy for reducing major heart risks and strokes in overweight or obese adults without diabetes.

Novo expects the label update for the use of Wegovy in patients with an obesity-related common heart condition to be implemented shortly.

The new indication would allow the drug's use in patients suffering from obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a condition in which the heart muscles stiffen and draw in less blood. HFpEF accounts for about half of all heart failure cases, with symptoms including shortness of breath and swelling in the extremities.