A once-weekly injection of 7.2 mg of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, led to an average weight loss of 20.7% after 72 weeks.
The results come from a phase 3b trial involving 1,407 adults with obesity.
The STEP UP trial, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, compared the higher 7.2 mg dose with the standard 2.4 mg dose and a placebo.
Nearly half of the people who received the higher dose lost at least 20% of their body weight, while about one in three lost 25% or more.
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The standard 2.4 mg dose, which is already sold as Wegovy, resulted in an average weight loss of around 17.5% over the same period.
People who received a placebo lost about 2.4%.
How effective was the higher dose?
The trial included adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which is classified as obesity. None of the participants had diabetes.
Their average age was 47, and their average starting weight was around 113 kilograms, or about 249 pounds.
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Digestive side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea, were more common with the higher dose.
Some participants also experienced tingling sensations, known as dysesthesia.
Most of these side effects were manageable and did not cause people to stop taking the drug.
Semaglutide belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
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These drugs work by mimicking the effects of a natural hormone in the gut that reduces appetite and slows digestion.
The same active ingredient is also sold at lower doses under the Ozempic brand for people with type 2 diabetes.
Approved and now available at pharmacies
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy HD on March 19, 2026, for long-term weight loss in adults with obesity.
It was the first GLP-1 drug reviewed through the FDA’s Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot program.
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Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy HD in a single-dose pen.
As of April 7, 2026, the drug is available at around 70,000 pharmacies across the US, as well as through NovoCare Pharmacy and selected telehealth providers.
For people paying without insurance, the listed price is $399 per month.
Patients with commercial insurance may pay as little as $25 per month through the manufacturer’s savings program.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.