Wegovy, an obesity drug known for its popularity, may have an unexpected benefit that extends beyond weight loss. In a large clinical trial, researchers discovered that individuals taking Wegovy during the Covid-19 pandemic were significantly less likely to die from the virus. The study, published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, revealed that while participants on Wegovy contracted Covid-19 at the same rate as those on a placebo, their risk of dying from the infection was reduced by 33%. This protective effect emerged immediately, even before participants experienced significant weight loss.
Unexpected Findings in a Pandemic Era
The study was not initially designed to examine the effects of Wegovy on Covid-19 outcomes. The primary goal of the trial, sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, was to determine whether the drug could prevent deaths from heart disease and related events such as heart attacks. The trial involved 17,604 participants with heart disease and a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher, but without diabetes. These individuals were followed for more than three years.
However, as the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded, researchers found themselves in a unique position to explore whether Wegovy might influence outcomes for those infected with the virus. Dr. Benjamin Scirica, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a trial investigator, admitted that the team had not anticipated the drug would have any effect on Covid-19 infections. Yet, the results were clear: of the 4,258 participants who contracted Covid-19, those on Wegovy had a significantly lower mortality rate compared to those on the placebo.
A Broader Impact on Mortality
The trial also uncovered that the death rate from all causes was lower among those taking Wegovy, a rare finding in clinical trials of new treatments. The drug reduced overall mortality by 19%, suggesting that the reduced life expectancy commonly associated with obesity could be directly related to the disease itself. Treating obesity, therefore, could improve life expectancy.
Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency room physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, described the findings as “stunning.” He noted that most cardiovascular studies, even those involving well-established drugs like statins, typically show benefits only for cardiovascular-related deaths and not for mortality from all causes. Wegovy’s ability to reduce overall mortality, especially in a population with an average age of 61, is significant.
The Protective Mechanism: Beyond Weight Loss
The precise mechanism by which Wegovy and similar GLP-1 agonists provide this protective effect remains unclear. Dr. David Maron, a cardiologist at Stanford University, suggested that the benefits go beyond simple weight loss. Dr. Faust posited that the drug might improve overall health by reducing chronic inflammation, which plays a role in the severity of infections like Covid-19. For example, while a healthy young person might recover from the flu with a week of discomfort, the same infection could be fatal for an elderly person or someone with chronic health conditions.
The findings have raised intriguing questions about whether Wegovy and other GLP-1 agonists could also protect against other infectious diseases, such as the flu or respiratory syncytial virus (R.S.V.). Dr. Scirica expressed interest in revisiting previous studies of GLP-1 drugs to see if they showed similar protective effects against infections. Future research, he suggested, should deliberately include these considerations.
Looking Ahead: The Potential for Broader Applications
The implications of these findings are far-reaching. With Wegovy already studied in patients for 10 to 15 years, its safety profile is well established, and the new data suggest that its benefits may extend beyond obesity treatment. As Dr. Faust noted, the significant reduction in mortality observed in this study means that even potential long-term risks would have to be considerable to outweigh the current benefits.
The discovery that treating obesity can directly improve survival rates offers new hope for those at risk of both cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases like Covid-19. As research continues, experts like Dr. Jon Zelner, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Michigan, anticipate more surprising benefits to emerge from this class of drugs. In the fight against obesity and its related health risks, Wegovy may prove to be a crucial tool in improving both quality and length of life.
