Wegovy® by Novo Nordisk Reduces Heart Attack, Stroke, or Death Risk by 57% Compared to Tirzepatide in Real-World Study of Obese Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease | Intellectia.AI
Wegovy® by Novo Nordisk Reduces Heart Attack, Stroke, or Death Risk by 57% Compared to Tirzepatide in Real-World Study of Obese Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Significant Risk Reduction: Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) demonstrated a 57% greater reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death from any cause compared to tirzepatide in patients with obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) who adhered to treatment without gaps.
Overall Risk Comparison: In a broader analysis, Wegovy users experienced a 29% reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from any cause compared to those using tirzepatide, regardless of treatment gaps.
Study Details and Findings
STEER Study Presentation: Novo Nordisk presented findings from the STEER study at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025, which focused on real-world patient experiences comparing Wegovy and tirzepatide in adults with obesity and established CVD.
Event Statistics: The study recorded 15 cardiovascular events (0.1%) in the Wegovy group versus 39 events (0.4%) in the tirzepatide group, with average follow-up durations of 3.8 months for Wegovy and 4.3 months for tirzepatide.
Implications of the Findings
Unique Cardiovascular Benefits: The results suggest that the cardiovascular benefits associated with Wegovy are specific to the semaglutide molecule and cannot be generalized to other GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1-based treatments.
Support from Previous Trials: The findings align with previous studies, including the SELECT trial, which indicated a 20% risk reduction in cardiovascular events with Wegovy.
Context of Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease
Global Impact: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, with nearly 21 million deaths annually. Obesity significantly contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Rising Obesity-Related Deaths: Despite a decrease in overall cardiovascular mortality, deaths related to obesity have increased, with two-thirds of obesity-related deaths linked to CVD.
About the STEER Study
Study Design: The STEER study was a retrospective, observational analysis comparing the efficacy of Wegovy and tirzepatide in preventing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among US adults aged 45 and older with obesity and established CVD.
Participant Matching: The study included 10,625 participants in each treatment group, with propensity score matching used to ensure comparability between Wegovy and tirzepatide users.
Overview of Wegovy
Indications: Wegovy is indicated in the EU for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight and related comorbid conditions, and for pediatric patients aged 12 and older with obesity.
US Indications: In the US, Wegovy is indicated to reduce the risk of MACE in adults with established CVD and either obesity or overweight.
About Novo Nordisk
Company Background: Novo Nordisk, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark, focuses on chronic disease management, particularly diabetes, and employs approximately 78,400 people globally.
NVO
$48.96+Infinity%1D
Analyst Views on NVO
Wall Street analysts forecast NVO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NVO is 57.37 USD with a low forecast of 47.00 USD and a high forecast of 70.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
7 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast NVO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NVO is 57.37 USD with a low forecast of 47.00 USD and a high forecast of 70.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 50.370
Low
47.00
Averages
57.37
High
70.00
Current: 50.370
Low
47.00
Averages
57.37
High
70.00
HSBC
Hold
maintain
$47 -> $54
2025-12-10
Reason
HSBC
Price Target
$47 -> $54
2025-12-10
maintain
Hold
Reason
HSBC raised the firm's price target on Novo Nordisk to $54 from $47 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares as part of a 2026 outlook for the pharma group. The firm believes the sector is well positioned to outperform in 2026, "even more so if AI panic kicks in." HSBC's preferred stocks are "growth bucket ideas," but says "fallen angels and value could work as well."
Argus
Buy -> Hold
downgrade
2025-12-08
Reason
Argus
Price Target
2025-12-08
downgrade
Buy -> Hold
Reason
Argus downgraded Novo Nordisk to Hold from Buy. The company has seen the market share of its GLP-1 drugs - Wegovy and Ozempic - decline in recent quarters and has also agreed to lower prices of these drugs in the U.S. markets, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Novo Nordisk will also soon face the entrance of generic versions of these products in certain international markets while, concurrently, some of the company's key clinical trials have "failed to impress", with the recent trials of semaglutide not confirming superiority relative to placebo in reduction of Alzheimer's disease progression, the firm added.
Argus
Buy
to
Hold
downgrade
2025-12-08
Reason
Argus
Price Target
2025-12-08
downgrade
Buy
to
Hold
Reason
Argus downgraded Novo Nordisk to Hold from Buy.
JPMorgan
Richard Vosser
Overweight
downgrade
2025-12-08
Reason
JPMorgan
Richard Vosser
Price Target
2025-12-08
downgrade
Overweight
Reason
JPMorgan analyst Richard Vosser lowered the firm's price target on Novo Nordisk to DKK 350 from DKK 500 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares.
About NVO
Novo Nordisk A/S is a global healthcare company engaged in diabetes care. The Company is also engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. The Company operates through two business segments: diabetes and obesity care, and biopharmaceuticals. The Company's diabetes and obesity care segment covers insulin, GLP-1, other protein-related products, such as glucagon, protein-related delivery systems and needles, and oral anti-diabetic drugs. The Company's biopharmaceuticals segment covers the therapy areas of hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. The Company also offers Saxenda product to treat obesity. It offers a range of products, including NovoLog/NovoRapid; NovoLog Mix/NovoMix; Prandin/NovoNorm; NovoSeven; Norditropin, and Vagifem. As of December 31, 2016, it marketed its products in over 180 countries. Its regional structure consists of two commercial units: North America and International Operations.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
