Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema Shows 15.7% Weight Loss in Type 2 Diabetes Trial
Novo Nordisk announced on Monday that its experimental obesity drug, CagriSema, helped overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes lose an average of 15.7% of their body weight over 68 weeks. This latest phase III trial data is crucial for understanding the potential of Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema, especially after an earlier trial in people without diabetes showed lower-than-expected weight loss results.
Promising Results from REDEFINE 2 Trial
The new data comes from the REDEFINE 2 trial, which involved around 1,200 participants with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher. The trial used a flexible protocol, allowing patients to adjust their dosage throughout the study. By the end of the 68-week period, 61.9% of participants receiving CagriSema were on the highest dose.
Patients treated with CagriSema achieved a 15.7% reduction in weight, compared to just 3.1% in the placebo group. Novo Nordisk highlighted that if all participants adhered fully to the treatment, the overall weight loss effect would remain at this level.
How Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema Works
CagriSema is a weekly injectable drug that combines two key components:
- Semaglutide – the active ingredient in Wegovy, which mimics the gut hormone GLP-1 to regulate appetite and blood sugar levels.
- Cagrilintide – a molecule that mimics the pancreatic hormone amylin, which helps control hunger.
By combining these two hormones, CagriSema effectively reduces hunger while also managing blood glucose, making it a potential breakthrough treatment for patients struggling with both obesity and diabetes.
A Key Step in Obesity and Diabetes Treatment
The results from the REDEFINE 2 trial strengthen CagriSema’s case as a next-generation obesity drug, particularly for those with type 2 diabetes. Novo Nordisk’s findings will be closely watched as the company seeks regulatory approval and potential commercialisation of the drug.
With inputs from Reuters
