Novo Nordisk A/S Demonstrates Higher Dose Wegovy Achieves Nearly 28% Weight Loss in Early Responders

Published: 2026-05-12 11:51:56 ET NOVO B.CO

Published on 05/12/2026 at 11:51 am EDT

Novo Nordisk A/S presented a new sub-analysis from the large clinical trial STEP UP at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) on 12-15 May in Istanbul, Türkiye, showing that the higher dose of the weight loss drug Wegovy is highly effective at helping people with obesity lose significant amounts of weight regardless of how quickly their body responds to the treatment. A separate STEP UP sub-analysis presented at ECO shows that most of the weight loss with Wegovy was coming from body fat, and most of the muscle mass was kept. The STEP UP trial in people with obesity tested the higher dose of semaglutide (7.2 mg) against the 2.4 mg dose and placebo over 72 weeks in over 1,400 adults living with obesity without type 2 diabetes.

On average, people taking the 7.2 mg dose lost 21% of their total body weight ? the equivalent of around 23 kg for the average person in the trial who weighed 113 kg before starting treatment with semaglutide. People on the 2.4 mg dose lost about 17.5% within 72 weeks, while those on the placebo lost 2.4%.

The 21% weight loss with semaglutide 7.2 mg was achieved with a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the 2.4 mg semaglutide dose. A new analysis has revealed insights into how fast and how much weight loss people who respond differently can expect, and the findings are presented at ECO. ?Early responders?

were identified as people who lost 15% or more of their body weight within just the first 24 weeks (about 6 months) of treatment. About 1 in 4 people (27%) taking the 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy had an early response, compared with about 1 in 5 (21%) on the 2.4 mg dose and 3% on placebo. The early responder group lost 27.7% of their body weight at week 72.

STEP UP weight-loss results: Average weight loss % across all groups: Semaglutide 7.2 mg: 20.7%, Semaglutide 2.4 mg: 17.5%, Placebo: 2.4%. Average weight loss % in early responders (=15% loss by week 24): Semaglutide 7.2 mg: 27.7% (in 26.9% of participants), Semaglutide 2.4 mg: 24.8% (in 20.9% of participants). Average weight loss in Responders (excluding early responders): Semaglutide 7.2 mg: 15.4%, Semaglutide 2.4 mg: 13.2%.

Another secondary analysis from a sub-population (55 participants) in the STEP UP trial studied body scan images (MRI) showing that 84% of the lost weight with semaglutide (2.4 and 7.2 mg) was due to a reduction in fat mass. The abdominal visceral fat was reduced by over 30% with semaglutide. Muscle mass was reduced by only 10% compared to baseline with semaglutide, and importantly, this was accompanied by improved muscle health, as assessed by the amount of muscle fat.

Both visceral and muscle fat are highly associated with the risk of cardiometabolic complications. This means the drug was highly effective at specifically targeting fat in different body depots. Importantly, participants taking semaglutide maintained their functional muscle strength, even as they lost significant weight.

Muscle function was measured using a 30-second sit-to-stand test, which showed the same functional muscle strength in both the semaglutide and placebo groups before and after treatment. Together, these results underscore the healthy improvements seen with semaglutide in body composition and muscle function. The results of the STEP UP sub-analysis of semaglutide?s improvement of body composition have been submitted for publication to a scientific journal.

Wegovy is approved as once-daily Wegovy pill (semaglutide 25 mg) by the FDA and once-weekly Wegovy injection (2.4 mg and 7.2 mg) by the FDA, EMA and other regulatory authorities worldwide. The Wegovy pill is currently pending marketing approval from the EMA and other regulatory authorities. Wegovy is indicated to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults with obesity or overweight and in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition, and approved by the FDA to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as death, heart attack or stroke in adults with known heart disease and either obesity or overweight.

Furthermore, Wegovy injection is indicated to reduce excess body weight and maintain long-term weight reduction in paediatric patients aged 12 years and older. It is approved by the FDA for the treatment of MASH in adults with moderate to advanced liver scarring (fibrosis), but not in those with cirrhosis of the liver. Novo Nordisk has completed two trials, STEP UP and STEP UP T2D, investigating the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg in people with obesity with or without type 2 diabetes.

The 72-week STEP UP trial was a randomised, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, superiority trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg compared to semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention. The trial included 1,407 adults with a BMI =30 kg/m2 without diabetes. The primary objective was to demonstrate the superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss.

Key confirmatory secondary endpoints included the number of participants achieving 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% weight loss, respectively. The 72-week STEP UP T2D trial investigated semaglutide 7.2 mg in 512 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, with the primary objective to demonstrate superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss.