Semaglutide Demonstrates Significant Weight Loss, Improved Cardiometabolic Profile in Adults with Moderate-to-Severe Obesity

Treatment with once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg for 68 weeks led to clinically significant weight loss and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with moderate or severe obesity, according to new research presented at ObesityWeek^® 2021.

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Researchers led by Carel W Le Roux, MD, PhD, professor of experimental pathology at University College Dublin in Ireland, conducted a post-hoc analysis of the STEP 1 and STEP 2 phase 3 clinical trials to analyze the efficacy of once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg compared to placebo for weight management in a subgroup of patients from each trial with class 2 or 3 obesity with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Researchers identified STEP 1 and STEP 2 participants with class 2 obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥35 – <40 kg/m2) with at least 1 obesity-related comorbidity (ie, T2D, hypertension, dyslipidemia), or with class 3 obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m2) irrespective of obesity-related comorbidities.

A total of 1356 participants (969 from STEP 1, 387 from STEP 2) had been previously randomized to receive either once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo, both plus lifestyle intervention. Changes in body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors were analyzed from baseline to week 68.

Mean percentage weight loss with semaglutide 2.4 mg compared with placebo in participants with class 2 or 3 obesity was 13.9% vs 2.1% (STEP 1; estimated treatment difference [ETD]: -11.8%; 95% CI, –13.1 to –10) and 10.6% vs 4.2% (STEP 2; ETD: –6.4%; 95% CI: –8.0 to –4.8), respectively, according to the study abstract.

Compared with placebo, semaglutide 2.4 mg also resulted in significantly greater (p<0.05)reductions in BMI and waist circumference, as well as significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, A1c, and C-reactive protein among participants with class 2 or 3 obesity.

“In adults with Class II obesity plus obesity-associated comorbidities, and Class III obesity, semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly provided clinically significant weight loss and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors,” concluded researchers in the abstract.

Reference: Le Roux CW, Aminian A, Batterham RL, et al. Weight loss outcomes with semaglutide 2.4 mg in moderate or severe obesity in STEP 1 and STEP 2. Oral abstract (103) presented at: ObesityWeek 2021; held online November 1-5, 2021.