The tablet version of Wegovy, a medicine for treating obesity, proved to be as effective as the injectable pen version, according to a new study released this Wednesday (5) by Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of the drug. The indirect comparison, based on phase 3 studies, suggests that the new oral formulation may offer an alternative treatment for people with obesity.
The OASIS 4 study, which evaluated the effectiveness and safety of the tablet, showed that people who took it achieved body weight reductions of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, in addition to positive changes in cardiometabolic markers and quality of life.
These results are similar to the STEP 1 study, which demonstrated an average weight loss of 17%, with a third of patients achieving a reduction of more than 20%.
“The possibility of offering an oral formulation with efficacy comparable to the injectable version represents a fundamental advance in the personalization and convenience of obesity treatment”, says Marilia Fonseca, medical director of Novo Nordisk in Brazil, in a press release.
In addition to the comparison between the formulations, the OASIS 4 study brought results that strengthen the evidence of benefits of semaglutide, Wegovy’s active ingredient, for cardiovascular health, for weight reduction in women with menopause and improvement of physical function. The data was presented during ObesityWeek, which takes place in Atlanta, in the United States.
“It is exciting to see these new results, which showed clear improvements in glycemic parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in all patients treated with oral semaglutide 25 mg, regardless of the amount of weight lost,” said Domenica Rubino, study investigator and director of the Washington Center for Weight Management and Research in Washington, D.C.
In February, Novo Nordisk submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the tablet formulation of Wegovy. The analysis is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
