More than a quarter of obese people taking a daily pill version of the weight loss drug responded swiftly to the treatment
Findings have been released into the impact the weightloss pill could have(Image: Prostock-Studio via Getty Images)
More than a quarter of obese people taking a daily tablet version of the weight loss medication Wegovy showed rapid results, shedding over 10% of their body weight on average within just four months, new data has revealed. These participants continued their progress, losing more than a fifth of their body weight by the trial’s conclusion, scientists discovered.
Additional analysis indicates the pill enhanced patients’ mobility. The tablet formulation of Wegovy, also referred to as semaglutide, is manufactured by Novo Nordisk. While it received approval in the US last December, it remains unavailable in the UK.
Fresh data from the Oasis 4 trial, which included 307 participants who received either the Wegovy tablet or a placebo once daily for 64 weeks, is being unveiled at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul. The analysis revealed that over a quarter of those on the pill were classified as “early responders” – people who shed at least 10% of body weight after 16 weeks.
This group lost an average of 13.2% of their body weight during that timeframe and 21.6% by the trial’s end at 64 weeks, reports Kent Live. Meanwhile, those who weren’t categorised as early responders still managed to lose 11.5% of their body weight by week 64, scientists found.
Professor Partha Kar, a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology, said: “Obesity management isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It’s nuanced, and individual responses can differ quite markedly. With anti-obesity medications, some people will notice changes sooner, others more gradually, but early signals can help clinicians and patients understand whether treatment is on track and guide timely, informed conversations.
“The real value lies in following the journey over time and interpreting progress in context. That’s what enables clinicians and patients to have honest, individualised conversations about what’s happening, what’s realistic, and how we define success for each person.”
A separate breakdown of Oasis 4 revealed that nearly eight in 10 patients taking Wegovy pills who reported difficulties with movement at the beginning of the study demonstrated improved mobility after 64 weeks. Sebnem Avsar Tuna, UK general manager at Novo Nordisk UK, said: “This is an important reminder that living with obesity can impact much more than body weight alone.
“It can influence how comfortable people feel moving through their daily lives, from standing for longer periods to bending down or staying active. These new findings add to our understanding of how oral semaglutide may affect not only weight loss, but also aspects of physical function that can matter to people in very practical, everyday ways.” Novo Nordisk will also present data comparing 25mg of oral Wegovy to 36mg of orforglipron, another weight loss tablet manufactured by Eli Lily.
It indicates the Wegovy tablet delivers superior weight loss results and reduced side effects.
