Pill form of popular weight-loss drug lowers heart risks
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- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
A pill version of the drug semaglutide, marketed as Rybelsus, can lower the risk for serious heart problems in people with common chronic diseases, a new study finds.
The injectable version of semaglutide is sold as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. In 2024, the FDA approved Wegovy to reduce heart-related risks in people with cardiovascular disease who meet the criteria for overweight or obesity. The study included 9,650 people ages 50 and older with diabetes as well as heart or kidney disease (or both). Half were randomly assigned to take oral semaglutide, while the other half got a placebo. Follow-up lasted an average of four years. Among those taking the drug, the risk of nonfatal heart attack was 26% lower, and the combined risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease was 14% lower than in those taking the placebo. The latter was similar to the benefit seen with the injectable version of semaglutide. The findings were published online March 29, 2025, by The New England Journal of Medicine.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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