Heart failure related to obesity can have a severe impact on a person’s daily activities, leading to fatigue, difficulty breathing and even the need for oxygen. This can result in hospitalization, disability and even death. A new study funded by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the Vigobi drug, looked at 616 individuals with type 2 diabetes and heart failure who were obese. Participants came from 16 countries across Asia, Europe, and America.
The study involved one group receiving the Vigobi injection and another receiving a placebo. Those who received Vigobi showed significant improvements in weight loss, reduced heart failure symptoms, increased exercise capacity and improvements in biomarkers for inflammation. They also experienced fewer hospitalizations and emergency visits compared to the placebo group. Despite some side effects reported in the Vigobi group, the overall results showed that the drug was effective and safe for a wide range of patients including those with diabetes.
Dr. Michael Kosybrod, the lead researcher emphasized that the benefits of Vigobi could not solely be attributed to weight loss which suggests that the drug targets other factors contributing to heart failure in these complex patients. The study results are promising for those struggling with heart failure related to obesity and diabetes as it offers hope for effective treatment options like Vigobi which is now available in pharmacies in Israel at a cost of NIS 1,250 per month for an effective dose which patients typically take for at least a year if not longer.
