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Novo Nordisk is exploring a higher-dose version of semaglutide to enhance weight loss treatments. In a recent phase 3b clinical trial called STEP UP, a 7.2-mg weekly dose of semaglutide helped participants lose an average of 20.7% of their body weight over 72 weeks. This significantly outperformed the 2.4-mg dose marketed as Wegovy, which led to a 17.5% weight loss, and placebo, which achieved just 2.4%.
JoinAStudy.ca would like to congratulate Principal Investigator Dr Peter Dzongowski and his team at Milestone Research, whose efforts were crucial in gathering the data necessary to arrive at these conclusions. The study participants at his research site also deserve acknowledgment and thanks for providing their valuable time and effort.
The trial, involving 1,407 participants with an average starting weight of 113 kg (249 pounds), revealed even more impressive outcomes for some patients. Around 33.2% of those on the 7.2-mg dose lost at least 25% of their body weight, compared to 16.7% on the 2.4-mg dose and none on the placebo.
Safety data showed the higher dose was well-tolerated, with mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects consistent with other GLP-1 receptor agonists. Novo Nordisk plans to present detailed results soon and is conducting another trial, STEP UP T2D, to test the 7.2-mg dose in patients with Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Despite these promising findings, Novo faces challenges in a highly competitive market. Eli Lilly’s rival drug, Zepbound, recently demonstrated comparable weight loss results in its SURMOUNT-5 trial. Additionally, Novo’s stock price dropped 4%, potentially reflecting investor concerns about Medicare price negotiations and competition.
The results suggest semaglutide 7.2 mg could be a game-changer in obesity treatment. However, Novo’s ability to maintain its market edge against competitors like Eli Lilly remains to be seen.
