New weight loss drug CagriSema, with similar effectiveness as LLY.US, sponsored by Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B (NVO.US), but with a side effect rate of nearly 80% lower than expected.

On June 22, Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B (NVO.US) disclosed the complete data from two phase III clinical trials of its new weight loss drug CagriSema, showing positive results in terms of weight loss and improvement in metabolic indicators, but with a higher rate of gastrointestinal side effects compared to the placebo group. This result is generally consistent with the interim data previously announced, but did not meet the expectations of the capital market, leading to fluctuations in the company's stock price. It is worth noting that the company underwent a personnel change last month, with CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen being dismissed. At the American Diabetes Association Annual Meeting in Chicago, Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B announced details of a 68-week clinical study: overweight or obese non-diabetic patients treated with CagriSema experienced an average weight loss of about 23%, while overweight patients with type 2 diabetes experienced a weight loss of 15.8%. In contrast, Eli Lilly and Company's (LLY.US) similar drug Tirzepatide, marketed as Zepbound, achieved a 22% weight loss in a 72-week trial. Professor Melanie Davies, Co-Director of the Leicester Diabetes Centre and lead researcher of the diabetes trial, stated that the efficacy data of CagriSema "compared well with the best drugs in the same category," especially in terms of blood sugar control. The proportion of patients in the treatment group achieving a glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c level 6.5% or lower was 73.5%, significantly higher than the placebo group's 15.9%. Safety data showed that 79.6% of CagriSema users experienced gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation, compared to 39.9% in the placebo group. The incidence of severe adverse events in the treatment group was 9.8%, higher than the placebo group's 6.1%, but Martin Holst Lange, R&D Director of Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B, emphasized that "the vast majority of side effects were mild to moderate and transient." It is worth noting that 6% of CagriSema subjects discontinued treatment prematurely due to adverse events, compared to 3.7% in the placebo group. The drug is administered through a weekly injection, composed of the GLP-1 receptor agonist Wegovy and the insulin analogue carvacrepide. Professor Davies pointed out that the phenomenon where the low-dose group had better weight loss effects than the high-dose group is worth noting, suggesting that "we may be able to optimize tolerability while ensuring efficacy by extending the dose escalation period." Animal studies have shown that insulin may promote weight loss by increasing energy expenditure, and if this mechanism is validated in humans, it could potentially alleviate metabolic adaptation issues during weight loss. Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR Class B plans to submit an application for the market approval of CagriSema in the first quarter of 2026, with an expected approval in early 2027. In addition to the indication for weight loss, the company is also conducting additional studies on cardiovascular benefits. A flexible dosing adjustment plan will be a key focus in clinical application, as extending the dosing interval can control the rate of weight loss while reducing the burden of side effects. In the fiercely competitive global obesity treatment market, if CagriSema successfully enters the market, it will directly compete with Eli Lilly's GLP-1/GIP dual-target drug.