Novo Nordisk has announced promising results from its STEP UP phase 3b trial, revealing that a 7.2 mg dose of semaglutide administered subcutaneously once weekly led to an average weight loss of 20.7% over 72 weeks among adults with obesity. This is an improvement over the 17.5% reduction observed with the 2.4 mg dose, and significantly higher than the 2.4% reduction seen with placebo.
Additionally, 33.2% of those on the 7.2 mg dose achieved a weight loss of 25% or more, compared to 16.7% with the 2.4 mg dose and none with placebo.
Using the treatment policy estimand approach, which accounts for treatment discontinuation and adherence challenges, semaglutide 7.2 mg still demonstrated superior results with an 18.7% weight loss compared to 15.6% with 2.4 mg and 3.9% with placebo.
The STEP UP trial involved 1,407 adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher, all receiving lifestyle interventions alongside their assigned treatments.
These findings come at a time when investor confidence in the obesity drug market has been shaken due to recent setbacks. Disappointing trial results for Novo Nordisk's CagriSema and lower-than-expected sales from Eli Lilly have led to significant share price declines for both companies.
Investors are now questioning whether the market will reach the projected $100 billion valuation by the end of the decade, citing concerns over growth potential and high valuations.
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