Recently, Professor John Deanfield, a prominent cardiologist from the UK, revealed that weekly injections of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, could reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes by 20%. This finding suggests that these medications could be used similarly to statins.

Deanfield presented the latest results from the Select clinical trial at the European Congress on Obesity. The study followed over 17,000 people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 27 for three years to assess whether semaglutide could have a protective effect in individuals with existing cardiovascular issues. Dr. Riyaz Somani, a consulting cardiologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, described the results as "truly remarkable."

Semaglutide, a drug manufactured by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, went from being relatively unknown outside industry circles to being recognized after an astonishing clinical trial in 2021. It demonstrated that individuals receiving a weekly 2.4 mg injection of semaglutide could lose up to 20% of their initial weight over 15 months.

Professor John Wilding, an expert in cardiovascular and metabolic medicine at the University of Liverpool who led the trial, described it as a potentially historic moment in the fight against chronic obesity.

Semaglutide mimics a natural hormone called GLP-1, which is part of the brain's appetite control system, actively reducing hunger and cravings, thus making dieting much more manageable.

In addition to weight loss benefits, the same weekly dose of semaglutide now appears to offer long-term benefits for the heart and blood vessels. Dr. Martin Whyte, an associate professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Surrey, points out that this doesn't seem to be merely an additional benefit of weight loss.

Additional data collected as part of the trial suggests that weekly semaglutide can directly reduce blood pressure, blood fat levels, and C-reactive protein levels, a marker of inflammation. This corresponds with previous animal research suggesting that drugs mimicking the GLP-1 hormone can reduce inflammation, blood clot risk, and improve heart function.

In light of these findings, Professor Deanfield is convinced that the NHS should consider implementing a mass rollout of Ozempic or Wegovy for anyone with a BMI over 27, similar to statins. However, others argue that there are still many unanswered questions, particularly regarding whether the NHS could afford this treatment.

Although semaglutide was originally developed for type 2 diabetes, and Ozempic is still marketed as a treatment for this condition, evidence suggests it could have powerful impacts in other areas, such as reducing addictions and treating dementia.