Bagsværd, Denmark, May 12, 2026
Novo Nordisk presented new analyses from its pivotal STEP UP clinical trial at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026 showing that higher-dose Wegovy® (semaglutide 7.2 mg) delivered nearly 28% average weight loss in early responders living with obesity. The findings further strengthen Novo Nordisk’s leadership position in the rapidly expanding obesity therapeutics market and demonstrate the growing clinical potential of high-dose GLP-1-based obesity treatments.
According to the new analyses, participants classified as “early responders,” defined as individuals achieving at least 15% weight loss after 24 weeks of treatment, reached an average 27.7% body weight reduction by week 72 when treated with semaglutide 7.2 mg. Researchers also reported that most of the weight reduction observed with Wegovy® came specifically from body fat loss while preserving muscle function and muscle quality. The data were presented during the European Congress on Obesity held in Istanbul, Türkiye, and represent one of the most detailed analyses yet evaluating body composition changes and response dynamics associated with high-dose semaglutide therapy.
STEP UP Trial Demonstrates Significant Weight Reduction With Semaglutide 7.2 mg
The global STEP UP Phase 3 trial evaluated semaglutide 7.2 mg against semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo over a 72-week treatment period in more than 1,400 adults living with obesity without type 2 diabetes. The study showed that patients receiving the higher 7.2 mg dose achieved an average 20.7% body weight reduction, compared with 17.5% weight loss in the semaglutide 2.4 mg group and only 2.4% in the placebo arm. Novo Nordisk stated that the higher dose maintained a safety and tolerability profile generally consistent with the currently approved 2.4 mg Wegovy® formulation.
The newly presented ECO sub-analysis focused on treatment response patterns, demonstrating that approximately 27% of participants receiving semaglutide 7.2 mg achieved rapid early response, compared with roughly 21% for the 2.4 mg dose. These early responders ultimately experienced the greatest long-term reductions in body weight, reaching nearly 28% average weight loss at week 72. Even participants who did not achieve rapid early response still demonstrated clinically meaningful weight reduction, with average losses exceeding 15% in the higher-dose group. Investigators emphasized that these findings may help physicians better manage patient expectations and improve long-term adherence to obesity treatment programs.
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Wegovy Weight Loss Primarily Driven by Fat Reduction
A second STEP UP sub-analysis presented at ECO examined changes in body composition using MRI imaging in a subgroup of 55 participants. The results showed that approximately 84% of total weight loss with semaglutide treatment was attributable to reductions in body fat, including substantial reductions in abdominal visceral fat. Researchers reported that visceral fat levels declined by more than 30%, an important finding given the strong association between visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic disease risk. Muscle mass reductions were comparatively limited, with only around 10% decline from baseline despite substantial overall weight loss.
Importantly, investigators noted that participants maintained functional muscle strength throughout treatment. Functional muscle performance was assessed using a 30-second sit-to-stand test, which showed preserved muscle function despite significant body weight reduction. Novo Nordisk executives highlighted these findings as clinically important because obesity therapies are increasingly scrutinized for potential effects on muscle preservation and long-term metabolic health. The data suggest that semaglutide-driven weight reduction may preferentially target excess adipose tissue while maintaining physical functionality and muscle quality.
Novo Nordisk Strengthens Leadership in Obesity Therapeutics Market
The new ECO data arrive as Novo Nordisk continues expanding the global commercial reach of Wegovy®, which remains one of the most successful GLP-1-based obesity medicines worldwide. Wegovy® is currently approved in multiple regions as a once-weekly injectable therapy for chronic weight management and has also received approvals related to cardiovascular risk reduction and metabolic disease indications. Novo Nordisk stated that the higher-dose semaglutide data further reinforce the therapeutic potential of intensified GLP-1 receptor agonist strategies for obesity management.
Analysts continue viewing obesity therapeutics as one of the fastest-growing sectors within the pharmaceutical industry, with competition intensifying among companies developing next-generation incretin therapies. Novo Nordisk’s expanding obesity portfolio, combined with its large-scale STEP clinical development program, positions the company as a dominant leader in the rapidly evolving metabolic disease market. Industry observers expect higher-dose obesity therapies capable of delivering weight reductions approaching bariatric surgery outcomes to significantly reshape long-term obesity treatment standards over the coming years.
Source: Novo Nordisk press release
