NEJM publishes STEP 1: weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg gives about 15% average weight loss over 68 weeks

Novo Nordisk/Wegovy (semaglutide)

NEJM published STEP 1, showing that weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg cut body weight by 14.9% on average over 68 weeks in obese or overweight adults without diabetes versus 2.4% on placebo. Half of patients lost at least 15%, and the trial underpinned Wegovy's obesity-drug approval.

• 86.4% of semaglutide users lost at least 5% of body weight; 69.1% lost at least 10%; 50.5% lost at least 15%.
• Improvements in waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipid profile accompanied weight loss.
• 4.5% of semaglutide users discontinued due to gastrointestinal adverse effects versus 0.8% on placebo.