A once-daily, 0.4 mg dose of semaglutide helped obese adults lose up to 13.8 percent of their body weight after a 52-week trial, according to research presented at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, March 16 to March 20 in Chicago.
Researchers conducted a phase 2, 52-week double-blind dose-ranging study of once-daily semaglutide versus a placebo, with liraglutide 3 mg serving as an active control. Each participant also received dietary and exercise counseling.
Approximately 83 percent of semaglutide patients lost greater than or equal to 5 percent of their body weight, with 65 percent losing greater than or equal to 10 percent of their body weight.
The most common adverse events were dose-related gastrointestinal events, which are present when GLP-1 receptor agonists are used.
Novo Nordisk Chief Science Officer Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen said the company will pursue a phase 3 clinical development program in late 2018.