Wegovy Timeline: Week by Week, What Changes and When
STEP 1 ran 68 weeks. By the end, people on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly had lost 14.9% of their body weight on average, against 2.4% on placebo. Side effects are most common in the first weeks and after each dose increase.
- Average loss, top dose
- 14.9%
- On placebo
- 2.4%
- Trial length
- 68 weeks
- Trial
- STEP 1
A quick look at Wegovy
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
During STEP 1 at 68 weeks, 14.9% of body weight was recorded, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
The maker's price page lists monthly price points in US dollars, including the list price and self-pay offers.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Wegovy timeline: the numbers 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 who have obesity or overweight and also have type 2 diabetes |
Sources: STEP 1 (FDA label (DailyMed)), SURMOUNT-5 (PubMed), STEP 2 (PubMed).
What the average number means in pounds
Three starting weights had the trial's 14.9% average applied to them. These numbers are arithmetic, not a prediction for one person: some lose more, some lose less.
| Starting weight | Average loss on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | Average loss on placebo |
|---|---|---|
| 180 lb | about 27 lb | about 4 lb |
| 220 lb | about 33 lb | about 5 lb |
| 260 lb | about 39 lb | about 6 lb |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Week by week
- At first, stomach side effects occur most often while the dose is low and then increases. After each dose increase, they often come back for a few days.
- STEP 1 ended at Week 68, when the average loss shown above was measured.
Sources: health.clevelandclinic.org, PubMed.