Semaglutide Beyond Weight Loss: SELECT and FLOW Evidence

Direct Answer

In SELECT (NEJM 2023), semaglutide cut major cardiovascular events by about 20% in adults with obesity and cardiovascular disease but without diabetes. In FLOW (NEJM 2024), it reduced major kidney and cardiovascular events by about 24% in type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease. Both used FDA-approved semaglutide, not compounded products.

Educational use only. This article is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide are not FDA-approved finished drug products and should only be prescribed when clinically appropriate by a licensed healthcare provider.

~20%

lower major cardiovascular events — SELECT (2023)

~24%

lower kidney/CV events — FLOW (2024)

FDA-approved

semaglutide studied (not compounded)

Scope and limits

These trials studied specific populations with FDA-approved semaglutide under medical care. They do not establish the same outcomes for compounded products or for everyone. Any cardiovascular or kidney use should be clinician-directed.

Frequently asked questions

Does semaglutide protect the heart?

SELECT (2023) showed about a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events in obesity with established cardiovascular disease.

Does semaglutide help the kidneys?

FLOW (2024) showed about a 24% reduction in major kidney and cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes with CKD.

Do these benefits apply to compounded semaglutide?

No; these trials used FDA-approved semaglutide, not compounded products.

Sources

Lincoff AM et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes (SELECT). N Engl J Med. 2023.
Perkovic V et al. Semaglutide in chronic kidney disease (FLOW). N Engl J Med. 2024.
U.S. FDA — Information on semaglutide and tirzepatide medications (fda.gov).