Rybelsus, the sister drug of the popular Type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic, reduces the risk of serious heart problems by 14 percent, manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced on Monday. Novo Nordisk is also the maker of the injectable weight-loss drug Wegovy. The trial enrolled nearly 9,700 Type 2 diabetes patients who also had heart or kidney disease.
Approximately half of the participants were already receiving a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), a class of drugs that lower blood sugar levels, as part of their standard treatment. The results showed that adding oral semaglutide not only complemented these existing treatments but also enhanced cardiovascular protection. The trial confirmed Rybelsus’ established safety profile, showing it remains well-tolerated by Type 2 diabetes patients.
Based on these findings, Novo Nordisk plans to seek regulatory approval for a label expansion in the United States and European Union by the end of the year. Complete trial results will be presented at a scientific conference in 2025. As diabetes rates continue to rise worldwide, and given the overlapping risk for cardiovascular disease, the results of the SOUL trial could pave the way for new medical strategies that offer dual benefits for those living with these chronic conditions.
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