Wegovy Weight Loss Study: Every Trial
The biggest average Weight loss results from Wegovy trials: 14.9% on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly in STEP 1, against 2.4% on placebo.
- Major trials here
- 8
- Top average loss
- 14.9%
- Placebo, same trial
- 2.4%
- Heart events, SELECT
- 20% lower risk
A quick look at Wegovy
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, while about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
In STEP 1 over 68 weeks, people lost 14.9% of body weight, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
In US dollars, monthly price points cover the list price plus self-pay offers, each shown on the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
All of the trials in one table
Its ClinicalTrials.gov record is linked from the trial name.
| Trial | Who was in it | People | Weeks | Compared with | Main result | In the label as | NCT number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 1,961 | 68 | placebo | 14.9% weight lost | Study 2 in the Wegovy label | NCT03548935 |
| OASIS 4 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 307 | 64 | placebo | 13.6% weight lost | Study 7 in the Wegovy label | NCT05564117 |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes | 751 | 72 | semaglutide (Wegovy) | 13.7% weight lost | Not listed | NCT05822830 |
| STEP 2 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes | 1,210 | 68 | placebo | 9.6% weight lost | Not listed | NCT03552757 |
| STEP TEENS | Teens aged 12 to 17 with obesity | 201 | 68 | placebo | Not listed | Not listed | NCT04102189 |
| SELECT | Adults 45 and older with heart disease who are overweight or have obesity, and have no diabetes | 17,604 | Not listed | placebo | Heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease | Study 1 in the Wegovy label | NCT03574597 |
| STEP-HFpEF | Adults with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction | 529 | 52 | placebo | Not listed | Not listed | NCT04788511 |
| ESSENCE | Adults with MASH (fatty liver inflammation) and moderate to advanced scarring | 800 | 72 | placebo | MASH resolved without worse scarring | Not listed | NCT04822181 |
Weight loss results from Wegovy trials
At the end of each trial, participants had lost an average share of their body weight. Each trial enrolled a different set of people, so compare doses within one trial first.
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1 | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 14.9% | 2.4% | 68 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| OASIS 4 | Wegovy pill 25 mg daily | 13.6% | 2.4% | 64 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Semaglutide 1.7 or 2.4 mg weekly (Wegovy) | 13.7% | semaglutide (Wegovy) | 72 | Adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes |
| STEP 2 | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 9.6% | 3.4% | 68 | Adults with obesity or overweight who also have type 2 diabetes |
| STEP-HFpEF | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 13.3% | 2.6% | 52 | Adults with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction |
The sources are STEP 1 (FDA label (DailyMed)), SURMOUNT-5 (PubMed), STEP 2 (PubMed), plus STEP-HFpEF (PubMed).
Trials that measured other outcomes, as well as heart and kidney outcomes
| Trial | What it measured | Result | Compared with | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SELECT | Heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease | 6.5% vs 8% 20% lower risk | Placebo | 39.8 months (mean follow-up) |
| ESSENCE | MASH resolved without worse scarring | 62.9% vs 34.3% | Placebo | 72 weeks (interim analysis) |
The sources are SELECT (PubMed), ESSENCE (PubMed), plus SELECT (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Safety signals
The sources are PubMed 1 2, plus the FDA label (DailyMed).
The Wegovy label includes warnings about these serious risks:
- A boxed warning covers Thyroid C-cell tumors. In rodents, it caused thyroid C-cell tumors; it is not known whether the same happens in people. Do not use it if you have a history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), if a family member has one, or if you have MEN 2.
- Pancreatitis. The medicine can cause pancreas inflammation. For severe stomach pain that does not go away, stop the medicine and get care.
- Gallbladder disease. Both gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder are possible. Report upper right belly pain, fever, or yellow skin or eyes.
- Low blood sugar. If you use it with insulin or a sulfonylurea, low blood sugar is more likely, and those doses may need to be lowered.
- Kidney injury from fluid loss. Vomiting or diarrhea may result in fluid loss, which can cause kidney injury. Drink fluids and report heavy fluid loss.
- Serious stomach and gut reactions. Side effects in the stomach and gut happen often, and they can be severe. It is not recommended for anyone with severe gastroparesis.
Source: the FDA label (DailyMed).
Source: the FDA label (DailyMed).
Semaglutide Trials now recruiting
See the semaglutide trials on ClinicalTrials.gov now recruiting. After using your state to filter the list, ask the study team about costs and travel.