Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) has shown to induce higher weight loss in women compared to men suffering from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), according to an analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study, presented at the American Diabetes Association’s scientific meeting, analyzed data from clinical trials involving 1,145 patients with obesity-related heart failure, both with and without diabetes.
The trials, which were not initially designed to evaluate treatment effects based on sex, revealed that women experienced a more significant reduction in body weight compared to men after 52 weeks of treatment with a 2.4-milligram dose of semaglutide. Specifically, women lost an average of 9.6% of their body weight, while men lost approximately 7.2%.
Impact on Heart Failure Symptoms
Interestingly, despite the difference in weight loss, both men and women experienced similar improvements in heart failure symptoms. The data indicated that both groups improved by roughly 7.5 points on a 0-to-100-point scoring system for HFpEF symptoms. This suggests that while women experienced greater weight loss, the benefits related to heart failure symptoms were comparable between the sexes.
Stephen Gough, Novo Nordisk’s chief medical officer, noted that the trial data supports Wegovy’s potential to deliver clinical improvements in patients with heart failure, observing benefits across both males and females.
Patient Demographics and Baseline Characteristics
The study also highlighted differences in baseline characteristics between the male and female participants. Women enrolled in the trials had a higher body mass index and reported worse symptoms of heart failure compared to men. Additionally, women were less likely to have abnormal heart rhythm or coronary artery disease.
Unanswered Questions and Future Research
An editorial accompanying the study pointed out that the "key surprising finding" was that greater weight loss among females did not translate to correspondingly greater improvements in heart failure symptoms. Researchers emphasized the need for further investigation to understand the reasons behind this discrepancy.
Other studies have also indicated a greater weight-loss response in women than in men with semaglutide, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Further research is warranted to explore the factors contributing to these sex-based differences and their implications for treatment strategies.
Safety Profile
The data indicated that fewer serious adverse events were reported in patients treated with semaglutide compared to those receiving a placebo, suggesting a favorable safety profile for the drug in this patient population.
Implications for HFpEF Treatment
HFpEF accounts for approximately half of all heart failure cases and is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling in the extremities. The condition disproportionately affects overweight individuals and is more prevalent among women. These findings underscore the importance of considering sex-specific responses when evaluating and treating HFpEF, and highlight the potential of Wegovy as a valuable therapeutic option for managing this complex condition.
