EU Approves Novo Nordisk's Higher-Dose Wegovy for Obesity Patients

Core Insights - Novo Nordisk has received European Commission approval for a new 7.2 mg once-weekly maintenance dose of Wegovy for adults with obesity, providing an additional treatment option for patients needing further weight reduction after the 2.4 mg dose [1][5] Group 1: Approval and Treatment Options - The 7.2 mg dose can be prescribed as three 2.4 mg injections during a single weekly session, with a regulatory application submitted for a dedicated 7.2 mg single-dose pen [2] - Wegovy is now available in all 27 EU member states in various strengths, including the newly approved 7.2 mg dose, and is already marketed in the UK [3] Group 2: Efficacy and Study Results - The phase III STEP UP study indicated that patients receiving the 7.2 mg dose achieved an average weight loss of 20.7% over 72 weeks, compared to 17.5% with the 2.4 mg dose [6][5] - Approximately 33.2% of patients on the 7.2 mg dose lost at least 25% of their weight, with most weight loss attributed to fat mass reduction while maintaining muscle function [7] Group 3: Safety and Tolerability - The safety profile of the 7.2 mg dose is consistent with the 2.4 mg dose, with common side effects being mild to moderate [8] Group 4: Market Context - Novo Nordisk shares have decreased by 9.9% over the past six months, contrasting with the industry's growth of 27.4% [4]