Adults with obesity treated with semaglutide 0.4 mg administered once-daily via subcutaneous injections lost up to 13.8% of their body weight after 52 weeks in a phase 2 trial, significantly more than those treated with placebo who lost 2.3% of their body weight.

An oral presentation of data from this trial investigating the safety and efficacy of semaglutide as a potential treatment for adults with obesity took place at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago (ENDO). 

The results were from a phase 2, 52-week double blind dose-ranging study of once-daily semaglutide versus placebo and liraglutide 3 mg as active control. All trial participants also received dietary and physical exercise counselling.

In the trial, 83% of people treated with semaglutide 0.4 mg lost greater than or equal to 5% of their body weight (compared to 23% with placebo and 66% with liraglutide 3 mg) and 65% lost greater than or equal to 10% (compared to 10% with placebo and 34% with liraglutide 3 mg).

"In line with our long-term commitment, we plan to start the STEP phase 3 clinical development programme later this year to explore the potential of once-weekly semaglutide as a treatment for people with obesity," said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk.