LONDON — Novo Nordisk made worldwide headlines last year when a study demonstrated that Wegovy, its powerful and exceedingly popular weight loss medicine, helped reduce the risk of cardiovascular emergencies like heart attacks.
Researchers on Friday unveiled results demonstrating another benefit that the drug offered to patients in that study: Compared to placebo, it cut the chances of dying from Covid-19 by roughly a third.
Given that obesity is a major risk factor for severe Covid outcomes, it perhaps seems obvious that a medicine that helps people lose weight also helps protect them from the worst tolls of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. But researchers say it might not be as straightforward as that. Some studies have indicated that the drug, also known as semaglutide, bolsters the immune system, tamps down inflammation, and strengthens other organs, including the liver and kidneys, in ways that scientists are only beginning to tease out.
