Patients lost another 4% of weight after switching to Wegovy pills — CNBC
In Milan, Italy, Novo Nordisk presented an analysis of real-world data showing that patients continued to lose weight after switching from injectable weight-loss drugs to Wegovy pills. According to CNBC, in the three months after changing treatment, they lost an average of around 4% of their body weight, or an additional 8.8 pounds — approximately 4 kg.
Data from 194 patients
The analysis included 194 people with obesity or excess weight whose data were obtained from the Ro telemedicine platform. Around 56% of participants were women. Before switching, half of the patients used Novo Nordisk's injectable Wegovy, while the rest used Eli Lilly's injectable Zepbound.
The participants' average body weight before starting the pills was around 221 pounds, or approximately 100 kg. Two in five patients lost at least 5% of their weight three months after switching. The share of participants with a body mass index of 30 or higher, which corresponds to obesity, decreased by more than 21%.
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Limitations of the analysis
Novo Nordisk noted that real-world data studies may show associations but do not prove cause-and-effect relationships. The company also pointed to varying timeframes and incomplete data collected during routine telemedicine consultations, as well as potential bias in patients' self-assessments. The manufacturer emphasized that the results cannot automatically be extended to the broader population.
Among participants for whom data were available, around 82% reported at least one improvement during treatment with the pills. Nearly 70% said their clothes fit better, while around 51% reported switching to a healthier diet. Approximately 75% of respondents were satisfied with switching to the oral form of the drug.
The company also presented data on the experimental drug CagriSema — a combination of semaglutide and cagrilintide. According to Novo Nordisk, a one-year study using functional magnetic resonance imaging showed changes in the brain's response to high-calorie food. The manufacturer also reported a reduction in fat around organs in adults with type 2 diabetes, while preliminary data indicated the preservation of bone health despite significant weight loss.
