Pharma’s New Frontier: Anti-Obesity Drugs Transforming Cardiac Treatment

Pharma’s New Frontier: Anti-Obesity Drugs Transforming Cardiac Treatment

Anti-obesity drugs having weight loss as primary mechanism of action have now found new hope in reducing adverse events of cardiovascular diseases, particularly GLP-1 based drugs are found to be effective to transform cardiac health. Clinical trial evidence has shown anti-obesity drugs can reduce risk of adverse cardiovascular events up to 20%.

Semaglutide: First Anti-Obese Drug Pioneering New Era in Cardiovascular Therapy

Approval Status

• In March 2024, semaglutide (Wegovy) injection was approved by U.S. FDA for vascular problems such as heart attack and stroke.

Clinical trial evidence:

• Patients undergone cardiac bypass surgery and now living with obesity were compared to patients who have some cardiac issue but not undergone any surgery, randomized to receive semaglutide or placebo once a week to study the impact of semaglutide on metabolic conditions.
• With the surprising outcomes, the semaglutide has shown positive result in reducing major cardiovascular events in both groups, with 23.1% reduction in patients undergone cardiac bypass surgery compared to 1% in patients who have some metabolic issue but not undergone any surgery.
• With high efficacy in reducing myocardial events the same drug was found to be effective in reducing diabetes incidence in patients undergone cardiac bypass surgery.

“Providing Wegovy as a treatment option that is proven to lower this cardiovascular risk is a major advance for public health," said Dr. John Sharretts, Director of FDA's diabetes, lipid disorders and obesity division.

Tirzepatide: Emerges as a Promising Agent in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

Approval Status

• As of August 2024, tirzepatide was successful in phase 3 clinical trial, showing efficacy in adults with heart failure.

Clinical trial evidence:

• The clinical trial lasted 104 weeks and involved two patient groups: 367 patients received a placebo, while 364 patients received tirzepatide.
• With the unexpected results, severe cardiovascular event or worsening heart failure occurred in 9.9% of tirzepatide patients compare to 15.3% of placebo patients.
• According to the study, the mechanism of action behind this unforeseen outcome was found to be decreased in paracardiac adipose by 45 ml along with decreased in left ventricle weight by 11 gm in the tirzepatide group. This decrease in heart size has effectively contributed to reduction in heart failure events.

These positive clinical studies with anti- obesity drugs will reinforce the potential of GLP-1 drugs in heart disease management, transforming the outlook for cardiac care.

Harold H. Hines Jr Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, highlighted on the potential of GLP-1 drugs in cardiac care “As the science evolves, we are achieving a deeper understanding of how weight loss, and treatment with these medications, can improve outcomes across diverse patient populations with obesity.”

Future with Anti-Obese Medications in Cardiac Care

The future of cardiology is being rewritten by the emergence of anti-obesity drugs. No longer considered simply as weight-loss agents, these therapies are now envisioned as powerful weapons against heart problems. With increasing clinical evidence and developments, they are set to become a keystone in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. As science keeps discovering their wider health advantages, anti-obese medications are going to be a pillar in safeguarding waistlines and cardiovascular well-being.