Novo's CagriSema obesity shot cut women's weight by 25% in 68 weeks, new analysis shows

Novo Nordisk says its next-generation obesity injection CagriSema helped women lose 25% of their body weight on average over 68 weeks, compared with 3% on a placebo, in a new analysis of its late-stage trial released on Tuesday 20 October, CNBC reported. The drug, which combines Wegovy's active ingredient semaglutide with a second medicine, cagrilintide, is expected to launch early next year.

The results

About 67% of the trial's patients were women. The figures assume every patient stayed on the drug without breaks, which is the best case, and Novo says more work is needed to confirm what the two follow-up analyses suggest. Both analyses also showed less fat around the waist.

"Many women with obesity or overweight experience weight gain as they move through menopause," said Michelle Skinner Moore, Novo's interim head of clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs.

How CagriSema works

Semaglutide, sold as Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes, mimics the GLP-1 gut hormone. Cagrilintide works on amylin, a hormone released from the pancreas alongside insulin that helps control hunger and fullness. Novo and its rival Eli Lilly are both building new drugs around amylin. Investors were disappointed by CagriSema's earlier trial results, which fell short of their hopes, but analysts still expect $11.84 billion in obesity sales from it in 2028, according to FactSet.

What it means in Pakistan

CagriSema is not approved anywhere yet, and these are company-released analyses, not a new trial. In Pakistan, semaglutide injections are sold only on prescription, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) decides which brands can be sold. Weight-loss injections should only be used under a doctor's care, since they can cause nausea and other side effects. Our directory lists hospitals in Karachi and Lahore with addresses and phone numbers.

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