Drug leads to weight loss in both diabetic and nondiabetic obese patients.
Back in November 2017, Novartis announced that despite the category's challenges, it intends to develop weight-loss drugs and expand the obesity market. The company launched its GLP-1 drug Saxenda in additional countries and began lobbying to get obesity recognized as a chronic disease. It was also seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the weekly GLP-1 drug semaglutide in diabetes.
Novo Nordisk recently reported positive results for a phase 2 study of semaglutide in obesity. Patients receiving subcutaneous injections of the drug, which is approved for the treatment of diabetes, lost up to 13.8% of their body weight after 52 weeks compared to just 2.3% for those on placebo. In addition, over 80% of the patients receiving semaglutide lost 5% of their body weight or more, and 65% lost more than 10%.
Next, Novo Nordisk plans to launch a phase 3a clinical trial with semaglutide in about 4,500 patients, as well as a cardiovascular outcomes study in 12,500 obese patients. The potential rewards for such investment are large. Noted lead study investigator Patrick O'Neil, Ph.D.: “In the U.S. alone, more than 90 million adults have obesity. We need to continue to research and develop new therapies to support those living with this chronic disease."
