Clinical Research Studies

The purpose of this study is to see if semaglutide may reduce the risk of having cardiovascular events (stroke, heart attack, and other conditions that damage the heart) in patients with overweight or obesity who have prior cardiovascular disease (CVD, a condition involving the narrowing or blocking of blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular events). Semaglutide is a medicine doctors can prescribe in some countries (including US) to treat type 2 diabetes. It is considered an investigational drug in this study because it is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight management and reduction of cardiovascular events in people with overweight or obesity and CVD. The dose given in this study is also higher than the dose FDA-approved for treating type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is similar to a hormone made in the body after eating a meal. The hormone is called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Semaglutide works like the body’s own hormone to regulate the blood sugar (glucose) level and appetite. Researchers have tested semaglutide in more than 5000 people. A completed study showed that semaglutide reduced the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. The interest is to determine if the beneficial effect on cardiovascular outcomes will extend to patients with underlying cardiovascular disease who are overweight but without type 2 diabetes.