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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Jul 2;84(1):27-40.
doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.04.022. Epub 2024 May 13.

Semaglutide and NT-proBNP in Obesity-Related HFpEF: Insights From the STEP-HFpEF Program

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Free article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Semaglutide and NT-proBNP in Obesity-Related HFpEF: Insights From the STEP-HFpEF Program

Mark C Petrie et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide, improved health status and reduced body weight in patients with obesity-related heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in the STEP-HFpEF (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity and HFpEF) program. Whether benefits were due to mechanical unloading or effects on HF pathobiology is uncertain.

Objectives: This study sought to determine if semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with obesity-related HFpEF and compare treatment responses by baseline NT-proBNP.

Methods: This was a prespecified secondary analysis of pooled data from 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trials (STEP-HFpEF [Research Study to Investigate How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure and Obesity] and STEP-HFpEF DM [Research Study to Look at How Well Semaglutide Works in People Living With Heart Failure, Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes]) testing effects of semaglutide in patients with obesity-related HFpEF. The main outcomes were change in NT-proBNP at 52 weeks and change in the dual primary endpoints of Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score and body weight by baseline NT-proBNP.

Results: In total, 1,145 patients were randomized. Semaglutide compared with placebo reduced NT-proBNP at 52 weeks (estimated treatment ratio: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.74-0.91; P = 0.0002). Improvements in health status were more pronounced in those with higher vs lower baseline NT-proBNP (estimated difference: tertile 1: 4.5 points, 95% CI: 0.8-8.2; tertile 2: 6.2 points, 95% CI: 2.4-10.0; tertile 3: 11.9 points, 95% CI: 8.1-15.7; P interaction = 0.02; baseline NT-proBNP as a continuous variable: P interaction = 0.004). Reductions in body weight were consistent across baseline NT-proBNP levels (P interaction = 0.21).

Conclusions: In patients with obesity-related HFpEF, semaglutide reduced NT-proBNP. Participants with higher baseline NT-proBNP had a similar degree of weight loss but experienced larger reductions in HF-related symptoms and physical limitations with semaglutide than those with lower NT-proBNP.

Keywords: N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide; heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; obesity; semaglutide.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funding Support and Author Disclosures The STEP-HFpEF program was funded by Novo Nordisk. Dr Petrie has received grants from the British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Grant RE/18/6/34217; has received research funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Pharmacosmos, Roche, and SQ Innovations; and has served on committees or consulted for AbbVie, Akero, AnaCardio, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Biosensors, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cardiorentis, Corvia, Eli Lilly, Horizon Therapeutics, LIB Therapeutics, Moderna, New Amsterdam, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Siemens, SQ Innovations, Takeda, Teikoku, and Vifor. Dr Borlaug has received grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Department of Defense, AstraZeneca, Axon, GlaxoSmithKline, Medtronic, Mesoblast, Novo Nordisk, Rivus, and Tenax Therapeutics; has received consulting fees from Actelion, Amgen, Aria, Axon Therapies, BD, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Edwards Lifesciences, Eli Lilly, Imbria, Janssen, Merck, NGM, Novo Nordisk, NXT, and VADovations; and has been named inventor (U.S. patent no. 10,307,179) for the tools and approach for a minimally invasive pericardial modification procedure to treat heart failure. Dr Butler has received consulting fees from Abbott, American Regent, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cardiac Dimension, Cardior, CVRx, Cytokinetics, Daxor, Edwards Lifesciences, Element Science, Innolife, Impulse Dynamics, Imbria, Inventiva, Lexicon, Lilly, LivaNova, Janssen, Medtronics, Merck, Occlutech, Owkin, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Pharmacosmos, PharmaIN, Prolaio, Roche, Secretome, Sequana, SQ Innovation, Tenex, and Vifor. Dr Davies has received consulting fees from, been an advisory board member for, and has been speaker for Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi; has been an advisory board member and speaker for AstraZeneca; has been an advisory board member for Medtronic, Pfizer, and ShouTi Pharma; has been a speaker for Amgen, Novartis, and Sanofi; and has received grants as an investigator in support of investigator-initiated trials from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi. Dr Kitzman has received grants from the Kermit Glenn Phillips II Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine, NIH grants U01AG076928, R01AG078153, R01AG045551, R01AG18915, P30AG021332, U24AG059624, and U01HL160272; has received honoraria as a consultant for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Corvia Medical, Ketyo, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Rivus; has received grant funding from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Rivus; and has stock ownership in Gilead Sciences. Dr Shah has received grants from AstraZeneca, Corvia, Pfizer, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U54 HL160273, R01 HL107577, R01 HL127028, R01 HL140731, and R01 HL149423); and has received consulting fees from Abbott, Alleviant, Amgen, Aria CV, AstraZeneca, Axon Therapies, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cyclerion, Cytokinetics, Edwards Lifesciences, Eidos, Imara, Impulse Dynamics, Intellia, Ionis, Lilly, Merck, MyoKardia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Prothena, ReCor, Regeneron, Rivus, Sardocor, Shifamed, Tenax, Tenaya, and Ultromics. Dr Verma has received speaking honoraria and/or consulting fees from Abbott, Amarin, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Canadian Medical and Surgical Knowledge Translation Research Group, Eli Lilly, HLS Therapeutics, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, PhaseBio, and TIMI. Drs Jensen and Einfeldt and Ms Liisberg are employees of Novo Nordisk A/S and shareholders. Dr Perna has received honoraria from Novo Nordisk. Dr Sharma has been an advisory board member for and has received consulting fees from Alleviant, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Janssen, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Rivus. Dr Ezekowitz has received research support for trial leadership from American Regent, Applied Therapeutics, Bayer, Cytokinetics, Merck, and Novo Nordisk; has received consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, and Otsuka; and has served as an advisor to US2.ai. Dr Melenovský has received consulting fees from Bayer, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Novo Nordisk; has received research grants from Regeneron; and has received research support from the National Institute for Research on Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (Programme EXCELES, ID Project No. LX22NPO5104), funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU. Dr Ito has received honoraria and/or consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Mochida, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk. Dr Lelonek has received honoraria and/or consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ewopharma, Gedeon Richter, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Servier. Dr Kosiborod has received consulting or advisory board fees from 35Pharma, Alnylam, Amgen, Applied Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cytokinetics, Dexcom, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Imbria Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Merck (Diabetes and Cardiovascular), Novo Nordisk, Pharmacosmos, Pfizer, Sanofi, scPharmaceuticals, Structure Therapeutics, Vifor Pharma, and Youngene Therapeutics; has received research grants from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer; holds stocks in Artera Health and Saghmos Therapeutics; has received honoraria from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novo Nordisk; and has received other research support from AstraZeneca. Dr Fu has reported that he has no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

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