Results from a phase 3 trial evaluating semaglutide in obese adolescents showed that treatment with a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist was associated with greater reductions in body mass index (BMI) compared with lifestyle interventions alone. It has been shown to bring
The STEP TEENS study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04102189) included obesity or at least one weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, or type 2) in those aged 12 to <18 years. Diabetes). Patients were randomized 2:1 to lifestyle intervention plus semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly subcutaneously or placebo for 68 weeks. The primary endpoint of this study was the percent change in her BMI from baseline to her 68 weeks.
A total of 180 adolescents (179 of whom were classified as obese) completed treatment. At week 68, the mean change in his BMI from baseline in the semaglutide group was -16.1% compared to 0.6% in the placebo group (estimated difference, -16.7 percentage points; 95% CI, -20.3, -13.2; P. <.001). In addition, more patients treated with semaglutide experienced weight loss of 5% or more (secondary endpoint; 73% vs. 18% of placebo; estimated odds ratio 14.0; 95% CI 6.3-31.0; P. <.001).
Improvements in waist circumference, HbA1c, lipids (except high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and liver enzymes were also observed with semaglutide compared with placebo.
In the semaglutide group, 62% of patients reported gastrointestinal adverse events and 4% reported cholelithiasis compared to 42% and 0% of patients in the placebo group, respectively.
“The results are amazing,” said senior author Silva Arslanian, MD, professor of pediatrics and clinical and translational sciences and who holds the Richard L. Day Endowed Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. says. “For a person who is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, an average decrease in BMI equates to a weight loss of about 40 pounds.”
Semaglutide, currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the brand name Wegovy, is an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with an initial BMI of 30 kg/m3. is used as2 Overweight (obesity) or 27 kg/m2 Presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity (eg, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or dyslipidemia) or more (overweight).
Wegovy, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, is currently out of stock. Additional production of the Wegovy is scheduled for his 2023, according to the company. The shortage has also constrained the supply of another Novo Nordisk product, Ozempic. Type 2 diabetes medications also include semaglutide.
References
- Weghuber D, Barrett T, Barrientos-Pérez M, et al. Weekly semaglutide in obese adolescents. N Engl J MedPublished online November 2, 2022. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2208601
- Obesity drugs help teens lose weight, study finds. news release. November 2, 2022. Accessed November 3, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/970040