HQ Team
July 8, 2025: Novo Nordisk A/S has sought approval from the European Medicines Agency for a higher dose of its weight-loss drug Wegovy, after trial data showed a third of participants losing 25% of their body weight.
Wegovy, subcutaneous semaglutide 7.2 mg, also demonstrated “a substantial average weight loss of 21% in people with obesity, with a third of participants losing 25% or more of their body weight compared with placebo,” according to a company statement.
Data also indicated that semaglutide 7.2 mg had a well-tolerated safety profile consistent with semaglutide 2.4 mg and the previous Novo Nordisk semaglutide trials.
“The submission of this new dose of Wegovy is another step forward in providing innovative solutions that meet the specific needs of people with obesity,” said Ludovic Helfgott, executive vice president and head of Product & Portfolio Strategy at Novo Nordisk.
Cardiovascular, kidney health
“This new dose was developed as a tailored option for people in need of additional support to achieve meaningful, sustained weight loss.
“With a reaffirmed safety and tolerability profile, we strongly believe in its potential to help even more people with obesity reach their weight loss as well as their broader health goals, including improvements in cardiovascular and kidney health, liver disease, type 2 diabetes and mobility through knee osteoarthritis pain reduction,” he said.
The 72-week trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg compared to semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo as a supplement to lifestyle intervention.
The trial included 1,407 adults with a Body Mass Index of more than 30 kg/m2 without diabetes. The primary objective was to demonstrate the superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss. Key confirmatory secondary endpoints included the number of participants achieving 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% weight loss, respectively.
Sleep apnea, high blood pressure
A second trial investigated semaglutide 7.2 mg in 512 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, with the primary objective to demonstrate superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss, according to the statement.
Wegovy is prescribed in the European Union to help adults manage their weight alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It is intended for adults with a Body Mass Index of 30 kg/m² or higher, which classifies as obesity.
It is also meant for adults with a BMI between 27 kg/m² and less than 30 kg/m² (overweight) who also have at least one health condition related to their weight, such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, sleep apnea, or cardiovascular disease.
