Shares of Novo Nordisk (NVO) are up 1.6% in pre-market trading after the Danish drugmaker announced that its Wegovy weight-loss drug reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death by 57%. This statistic is reportedly stronger than results seen with rival Eli Lilly’s (LLY) Mounjaro and Zepbound drugs, causing LLY stock to fall 1.7%. The data was presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid, Spain.
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The active ingredient in Novo’s blockbuster Wegovy drug is semaglutide, while Lilly uses Tirzepatide for its GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) drugs. Novo has noted that the heart-protective benefits of semaglutide may not apply to other ingredients.
Wegovy Demonstrates Benefits in a Real-World Study
Notably, Wegovy’s positive results were demonstrated in a real-world study using evidence gathered from actual patients, whereas Lilly’s drugs have primarily shown efficacy in controlled clinical trials. The study evaluated over 21,000 patients aged 45 and older, who were overweight or obese with cardiovascular disease, excluding those with diabetes. These patients have been taking a 2.4 milligram dose of Wegovy since May 13, 2022. The data showed a 57% greater risk reduction for heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related death.
Commenting on the findings, Ludovic Helfgott, head of product & portfolio strategy at Novo Nordisk said, “This data confirms that semaglutide stands apart as the only available GLP-1-based medication with proven cardiovascular benefits for people living with obesity and cardiovascular disease, without diabetes.”
NVO or LLY: Which Is the Better Weight-Loss Drug Stock?
We used the TipRanks Stock Comparison Tool to determine which of the two stocks is more favored by analysts. Currently, both NVO and LLY have earned Wall Street’s “Moderate Buy” consensus rating, with LLY stock offering slightly more upside compared to NVO over the next twelve months.
