The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a “higher maintenance dose” of Wegovy, its manufacturer Novo Nordisk has announced.
The new 7.2mg once-weekly dose – which is three times higher than its current highest approved dose – was approved by the medicines watchdog last week (January 11).
According to Novo Nordisk, the dose offers an “additional treatment option for adult patients who require a higher percentage of weight loss”.
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Results from the manufacturer’s clinical trial showed the 7.2mg dose could “achieve greater weight loss in people living with obesity not reaching their therapeutic goals after being on the 2.4 mg maintenance dose for at least four weeks”, it said.
A third of participants on the higher dose lost a quarter (25%) or more of their body weight after 72 weeks on the drug compared to a placebo – achieving “superior weight loss”, it found.
“Tailor treatment”
Novo Nordisk explained that the 7.2mg dose is currently only available as “three injections of 2.4mg”.
But it noted it has “submitted to the MHRA” a 7.2 mg “single dose device” to deliver the full dose in one injection”, which is expected to come to market this year.
“With rates of obesity continuing to rise across the UK, this milestone reinforces Novo Nordisk’s long-term commitment to improving population health through science-led innovation and responsible access,” the manufacturer said.
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Novo Nordisk’s UK general manager Sebnem Avsar Tuna said the approval represents “another important step” in supporting people living with obesity.
“Clinical trial data show that people treated with Wegovy achieved up to 21% average weight loss, with about a third of patients achieving more than 25% weight loss,” he noted.
And Tuna added that “the addition of a new dose of semaglutide provides healthcare professionals with greater flexibility to tailor treatment” for patients.
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It comes after Novo Nordisk announced last week that the “first and only” GLP-1 pill for weight loss is now on sale in the US.
The oral version of its weight loss jab Wegovy is now “broadly available” at more than 70,000 US pharmacies such as CVS and Costco, it said.
