Semaglutide for Teens: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage

Yes, for some brands: Wegovy from age 12 for weight loss. Ozempic and Rybelsus are for adults only. In STEP TEENS, BMI fell 16.1% on average for people on Wegovy, vs 0.6% on placebo.

Brands: Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus
Best result (STEP TEENS): 16.1% drop in BMI

A quick look at Wegovy

How long it remains in your body

Half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, and after five half-lives (35 d), about 3% remains.

Main trial weight loss

Over 68 weeks in STEP 1, the figure for body weight was 14.9%, compared with 2.4% on placebo.

Cost over time

Monthly prices in US dollars include the list price and self-pay offers. Each comes from the maker's price page.

Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.

Who qualifies?

Semaglutide: who qualifies
Medicine	Who qualifies
Ozempic	When used with diet and exercise, it lowers blood sugar for adults with type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic	Among adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke or heart-related death.
Ozempic	Adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease who take it face lower risks of worsening kidney disease, plus kidney failure and heart-related death.
Wegovy	For adults who have heart disease and also have obesity or overweight, it reduces the chance of a heart attack, stroke, or death related to the heart (injection and tablets).
Wegovy	For adults, and for children 12 and older, who have obesity, or adults who have overweight plus a condition related to weight, this treatment helps with losing weight and keeping it off long term, along with diet and activity.
Wegovy	For adults with MASH liver disease and moderate to advanced scarring (no cirrhosis), it treats the condition (injection).
Wegovy	In adults, the tablets are approved for weight loss and heart risk.
Rybelsus	When used with diet and exercise, it lowers blood sugar for adults with type 2 diabetes.
Rybelsus	Adults with type 2 diabetes who face a high risk get a lower chance of heart attack, stroke or heart-related death from this medicine.

Sources: FDA label (DailyMed) 1 2 3.

Results from teen trials

Semaglutide tests in teens
Trial	Medicine	Who took part	Length	People	Main result	Comparison
STEP TEENS	Wegovy	Teens aged 12 to 17 with obesity	68 weeks	201	16.1% drop in BMI	0.6% on placebo

Trial sources: STEP TEENS (PubMed).

What is different for teens?

Semaglutide: label points for teens
What changes	What the label says	Labels
Acute Pancreatitis	Can cause inflammation of the pancreas. If severe stomach pain continues and sometimes spreads to your back, stop taking it and get medical care.	All of them
Acute Gallbladder Disease	Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation can happen. Report fever, yellow skin or eyes, or upper right belly pain.	All of them

FDA labels from DailyMed.

Label warnings: FDA label on DailyMed

Coverage for teens

Alternatives for teens

GLP-1 medicines and teens
Medicine	For teens	How it is taken	Trial result
Wegovy	From age 12, for weight loss	weekly injection or daily tablet	16.1% drop in BMI
Mounjaro	From age 10, for type 2 diabetes	weekly injection	Not listed
Trulicity	From age 10, for type 2 diabetes	weekly injection	Not listed
Saxenda	From age 12, for weight loss	daily injection	Not listed
Victoza	From age 10, for type 2 diabetes	daily injection	Not listed
Ozempic	Adults only	weekly injection	Not listed
Rybelsus	Adults only	daily tablet	Not listed
Zepbound	Adults only	weekly injection	Not listed
Foundayo	Adults only	daily tablet	Not listed
Byetta	Adults only	twice-daily injection	Not listed