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Sept 1 (Reuters) - European shares edge higher on

Monday, supported by healthcare stocks after data showed Danish

drugmaker Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy offered better

heart-protective benefits than rival treatments from U.S.-based

Eli Lilly ( LLY ).

The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.26% at 551.56,

as of 0713 GMT, following its first weekly loss in four on

Friday.

Healthcare stocks were among top sectoral

performers.

Shares of Novo Nordisk, the fourth-largest

healthcare company on the STOXX index, climbed 3.1% after the

company said Wegovy cut the risk of heart attack, stroke or

death by 57% versus Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) rival medicines Mounjaro

and Zepbound in a real-world comparison.

Defence stocks gained 1.2%, with Britain's BAE

Systems up 2%, as Norway said it had chosen Britain as

its strategic partner for the acquisition of new frigates, in a

deal worth some 10 billion pounds ($13.51 billion).

On the other side of the Atlantic, a U.S. appeals court

ruled on Friday that most of U.S. President Donald Trump's

tariffs are illegal, although allowed them to remain in place

until mid-October to permit further appeals.

Trading is expected to be light throughout the day due to a

U.S. holiday.