Ozempic now approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes

Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (semaglutide injection) is now indicated as an adjunct to diet, exercise and standard of care to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE; CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes and established CV disease and/or chronic kidney disease.1,2 Health Canada had originally approved the product only to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic then later received Health Canada approval to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease and CV death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.2 The new MACE reduction indication for Ozempic follows the December 31, 2025 approval of Novo Nordisk’s Rybelsus (semaglutide tablets) to reduce the risk of MACE (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established CV disease or are at high risk for these events. Rybelsus was originally indicated only for use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults, to improve glycemic control.3The MACE reduction indication for Ozempic is based on results from the pooled analysis of the SUSTAIN 6 (semaglutide injection), PIONEER 6 (oral semaglutide), FLOW (semaglutide injection) and SOUL (oral semaglutide) trials (~9,800 oral/subcutaneous semaglutide-treated patients), which demonstrated a reduction in the risk of MACE compared to placebo (hazard ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence interval 0.75–0.90) when Ozempic was added to standard of care.1,2Type 2 diabetes contributes to approximately 40% of heart attacks and 30% of strokes in Canada, highlighting the importance of addressing cardiovascular risk as part of comprehensive type 2 diabetes management.1In a press release accompanying the announcement of the new MACE indication for Ozempic, Dr. Lawrence Leiter, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto, and co-author of the SUSTAIN 6 Trial commented that "Over the past decade, the results of cardiovascular outcomes trials such as SUSTAIN 6 have fundamentally changed the management of diabetes, as they have demonstrated that therapies like semaglutide can meaningfully reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and nonfatal strokes, in people living with type 2 diabetes with, or at high risk of, cardiovascular disease. This represents an important advance for persons living with diabetes and their families."1References:Novo Nordisk Canada. Health Canada approves Ozempic (semaglutide injection) to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults with type 2 diabetes. March 2, 2026. (accessed March 12, 2026).Novo Nordisk Canada. Ozempic (semaglutide injection) product monograph. Mississauga, ON; February 25, 2026. (accessed March 12, 2026).Novo Nordisk Canada. Rybelsus (semaglutide tablets) product monograph. Mississauga, ON; December 31, 2025. (accessed March 12, 2026).

Ozempic now approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes

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