SELECT trial published in NEJM: semaglutide cuts major cardiovascular events 20% in people with obesity

Novo Nordisk/Wegovy (semaglutide)

NEJM published SELECT, a cardiovascular trial of weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg in 17,604 people with obesity or overweight and established cardiovascular disease but without diabetes. Semaglutide lowered major cardiovascular events (MI, stroke, CV death) by 20% versus placebo.

• SELECT enrolled CVD patients without diabetes; mean age 61 years; mean BMI 33.
• Primary endpoint = first occurrence of CV death, MI or stroke; semaglutide reduced composite risk 20%.
• Weight loss 9.4% on semaglutide versus placebo; safety consistent with prior semaglutide trials.
• First obesity drug to demonstrate cardiovascular mortality benefit, changing paradigm for weight-loss therapy.