Weight-loss drug Wegovy cuts heart attack, stroke risk by 20%, study shows

A worldwide study shows a popular weight-loss drug is also good for heart health, findings that could open the door for insurance coverage on the popular medicine.

Insider reported the study from drugmaker Novo Nordisk showed weight-loss drug Wegovy decreases the risk of stroke, heart attack and death among people with cardiovascular disease by as much as 20%.

The study involved more than 17,600 adults 45 years or older who were overweight or obese and had cardiovascular disease but not diabetes. It showed Wegovy reduced the risk of several different ad heart health outcomes at once, Insider reported.

The findings could also push insurance companies, which previously have been slow to cover semaglutide drugs in non-diabetic patients, to extend coverage. Insurance providers have previously balked at the price of the drugs, which can run up to $1,300 a month for consumers.

The findings, according to CNN, show the reduction in heart risk is higher than many anticipated. A similar trial for type 2 diabetes Ozempic previously showed it could reduce cardiovascular risk by 26% but no trial had yet shown a risk reduction in people without diabetes.