HQ Team
June 22, 2025: Novo Nordisk A/S’s data from a clinical trial of a weight-loss medicine, treating overweight and obese adult participants, showed patients lost about 23% of their body weight compared to a dummy group’s 2-3%.
The data published in the New England Journal of Medicine after 68 weeks of the trial also revealed that participants with obesity and type 2 diabetes had a 16% reduction in their body weight compared to a dummy group that lost about 3%.
CagriSema is a combination of two medicines, semaglutide, which is already used to treat diabetes and weight loss, and cagrilintide, which helps reduce hunger. It is given as a weekly injection.
In the first trial, data showed that when people didn’t fully follow the treatment, the weight loss with the medicine was still about 20%.
Body Mass Index
Half of the people treated with CagriSema in that trial reduced their body mass index (BMI) to a level enough to be considered no longer obese. In contrast, only about 10% of the placebo group reached that target.
Many people lost a quarter or more of their body weight. About 40% lost at least 25%, and 23% lost at least 30% of their weight when they stuck to the treatment.
“In (the first trial), CagriSema provided weight loss in the highest range of efficacy observed with existing weight loss interventions,” said lead investigator Timothy Garvey, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Diabetes Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“These findings are relatable to clinical practice, where dosing is often adjusted based on individual needs and clinical judgement.”
Obesity, type 2 diabetes
The second trial was conducted in people who had both obesity and type 2 diabetes. These participants lost about 16% of their body weight after 68 weeks.
During the trial, a large percentage of people on CagriSema lost more than 5%, 10%, 15%, or even 20% of their weight, much higher than the placebo group.
The most common side effects were mild to moderate stomach issues like nausea, vomiting, and constipation. These side effects usually went away over time
Only a small number of people stopped taking the drug because of side effects — about six per cent in the first trial and eight per cent in the second.
5,800 trial participants
The end-stage first trial enrolled about 4,600 adults with overweight or obesity, while the second had 1,206 adults with type 2 diabetes, who were either obese or overweight.
Novo Nordisk is continuing to study it in more trials to confirm these benefits and ensure safety. Data was also presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 85th scientific sessions.
In the first trial, “participants saw significant and clinically meaningful weight loss under a protocol that allowed investigators to maintain patients on a submaximal dose if deemed best for the patient,” said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president and head of Development at Novo Nordisk.
“We also witnessed low, single-digit discontinuation rates due to adverse events in both of the trials,” he said. “These results reinforce our confidence in CagriSema, and we continue to study the potential of this combination through the trials.”
