Drugmaker Novo Nordisk has released two new trial results that could strengthen the case for insurers and government agencies to cover the cost of Wegovy, its popular but expensive weight-loss treatment. Patients taking the drug maintained an average 10% weight loss after four years, and results from a previous trial showed that Wegovy reduced the risk of serious heart problems, such as strokes and heart attacks, by 20%

"This is the longest study we've conducted so far of semaglutide for weight loss," said Martin Holst Lange, Novo's head of development, referring to the active ingredient in Wegovy and the company's diabetes drug Ozempic. "We see that once the majority of the weight loss is accrued; you don't go back and start to increase in weight if you stay on the drug."

According to the report "clinically meaningful weight loss" was achieved among all sexes, races, body sizes and participants in different geographic regions. Wegovy mimics the hormone GLP-1, which causes insulin secretion and regulates appetite. Approved uses for GLP-1 agonists so far include treating diabetes, obesity and most recently, reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events. People taking Wegovy enjoyed those benefits regardless of their weight when they first started taking the drug or how much weight they lost while on it.