Drug updated on 3/28/2024
| Dosage Form | Injection (subcutaneous; pre-filled, single-dose pen that delivers doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg) |
| Drug Class | Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists |
| Ongoing and Completed Studies | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Indication
- Indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.
- Indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in: Adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity.
- Indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in: Adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition.
Summary
- Semaglutide (Wegovy) is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with obesity or overweight, and also in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity.
- A total of 19 systematic reviews/meta-analyses were reviewed to gather information about the safety and effectiveness of semaglutide (Wegovy).
- The drug has been shown to produce significant reductions in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference across various populations including adults and adolescents with obesity or overweight.
- Compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) such as liraglutide, exenatide, dulaglutide; sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is); or conventional treatments like exercise alone; semaglutide was superior in terms of efficacy.
- Subgroup analyses indicate that higher dosages along with weekly administration improve outcomes concerning weight loss when using semaglutide (Wegovy).
- Most commonly reported side effects are gastrointestinal but serious adverse events do not significantly differ from comparators suggesting a manageable adverse event profile for this drug.
- Despite having a higher incidence rate of gastrointestinal side effects compared to other drugs used for managing weight such as naltrexone/bupropion & SGLT-2is; it offers an advantageous safety-efficacy balance due its comparable profile regarding serious adverse events making it suitable for broad range patient population seeking obesity management.
- Evidence suggests that intervention combinations like lifestyle interventions plus semaglutide can reduce the incidence rate of hypoglycemia enhancing tolerability while improving both efficacy & safety profiles which makes it versatile treatment option across diverse demographics & conditions associated with obesity like hypertension & dyslipidemia.
Product Monograph / Prescribing Information
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy (semaglutide injection 2.4 mg) Prescribing Information | 2024 | Novo Nordisk, Plainsboro, NJ |
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
Clinical Practice Guidelines
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity | 2023 | Pediatrics |
| AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on Pharmacological Interventions for Adults With Obesity | 2022 | Gastroenterology |