Wegovy (Semaglutide): A New Weight Loss Drug for Chronic Weight Management

Oct 28, 2021Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research

Wegovy (semaglutide): a new medicine for long-term weight loss

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Abstract

Semaglutide, at a dose of 2.4 mg once weekly, has shown superior efficacy in weight reduction compared to placebo and other antidiabetic medications.

Obesity is linked to increased risks of serious health issues, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may promote weight loss and improve glycemic control.
The SUSTAIN and PIONEER trials involved 1.0 mg doses of semaglutide for participants with type 2 diabetes.
The STEP trial focused on the effects of 2.4 mg semaglutide on patients with obesity.
Results from these trials supported the FDA approval of Wegovy (semaglutide) for weight loss.

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Obesity is a growing epidemic within the USA. Because weight gain is associated with an increased risk of developing life-threatening comorbidities, such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes, there is great interest in developing non-invasive pharmacotherapeutics to help combat obesity. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of antidiabetic medications that have shown promise in encouraging glycemic control and promoting weight loss in patients with or without type 2 diabetes. This literature review summarizes and discusses the weight loss results from the SUSTAIN (Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes), PIONEER (Peptide Innovation for Early Diabetes Treatment), and STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) clinical trial programs. The SUSTAIN and PIONEER clinical trials studied the use of 1.0 mg, once-weekly, subcutaneous and oral semaglutide (a new GLP-1 homolog), respectively, on participants with type 2 diabetes. The STEP trial examined the effects of 2.4 mg, once-weekly, subcutaneous semaglutide on patients with obesity. Trial data and other pertinent articles were obtained via database search through the US National Library of Medicine Clinical Trials and the National Center for Biotechnology Information. All three clinical trials demonstrated that semaglutide (injected or oral) has superior efficacy compared with placebo and other antidiabetic medications in weight reduction, which led to Food and Drug Administration approval of Wegovy (semaglutide) for weight loss.

Key numbers

86.5%

Weight Loss Achievement

Percentage of participants achieving at least 5% weight loss in STEP trials.

4.53 kg

Weight Loss Comparison

Average weight change from baseline in SUSTAIN trials for semaglutide 1.0 mg.

26%

Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

Percentage reduction in cardiovascular death rates in patients with type 2 diabetes.

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Wegovy (Semaglutide): A New Weight Loss Drug for Chronic Weight Management

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

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