Findings from a new large-scale clinical trial of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy suggest that it may reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events by 20%, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New Jersey.

• District of Columbia: The Red Cross on Monday ended restrictions on blood donation from men who have sex with men (MSM) following updated guidelines that were finalized by FDA earlier this year. Previously, FDA only allowed blood donations from MSM if they had been abstinent for three months, but the new guidelines will allow individuals in monogamous relationships to donate. Under the updated guidelines, all potential blood donors are required to complete an individual risk assessment, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Those who report having anal sex with new partners or more than one partner in the last three months will be asked to wait three months before donating blood. On Monday, the Red Cross implemented the same guidelines. "The Red Cross celebrates this significant progress and also recognizes there is more work to be done to make blood donation even more inclusive," the organization said. (Saric, Axios, 8/7)
• Maryland: CMS last month announced a new dementia care model for Medicare patients. The new model, which is known as Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE), aims to improve the quality of life for patients with dementia, reduce strain on unpaid caregivers, and help patients stay in their homes and communities as long as possible. According to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the GUIDE model is a "first-of-its-kind initiative for CMS designed to support both those living with dementia and those caring for them" and "will include a sustainable alternative payment model that offers standardized dementia care, including assessments, care coordination, ongoing monitoring, medication management, and a 24/7 support line." CMS is currently accepting letters of interest for programs looking to join the GUIDE model through Sept. 15, 2023, and plans to release a GUIDE Request for Applications in fall 2023. The model is expected to launch on July 1, 2024, and will run for eight years. (Frieden, MedPage Today, 7/31)
• New Jersey: According to a new large-scale clinical trial, Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy reduced the risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, by 20%. In the late-stage trial, researchers analyzed data from over 17,000 participants ages 45 and older who either received a 2.4-milligram dose of Wegovy or a placebo as well as standard care. Participants were either overweight or obese and had existing cardiovascular disease, but not prior history of diabetes. Overall, the researchers found that Wegovy reduced the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths by 20%, surpassing the study's initial goal of a 17% reduction in risk. "Twenty percent is huge," said Shauna Levy, an obesity medicine specialist and medical director of the Tulane Bariatric Center. "All of this narrative about people just wanting this for cosmetic reasons, I think, to some degree, has overshadowed all of the health benefits we can get from this medication." According to Levy, the results of the study may be compelling enough to convince insurers to cover the treatment, something many have been reluctant to do due to high costs. Currently, Novo Nordisk and other companies developing weight-loss drugs are testing whether these drugs can treat other health conditions, such as sleep apnea, liver disease, and chronic kidney disease. (Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 8/8; Mueller, New York Times, 8/8; Loftus, Wall Street Journal, 8/8)