Novo Nordisk's Higher Dose Of Semaglutide Trumped 1-mg Predecessor On Blood Sugar, Weight Reduction

Novo Nordisk A/S NVO announced data from SUSTAIN FORTE Phase 3b trial comparing semaglutide 2.0 mg versus 1.0 mg dose as an add-on to metformin in type 2 diabetes in need of additional blood sugar reduction.
The results were presented at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, and the preliminary results will be published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
In the 961-patient study, higher-dose Ozempic patients saw an A1C reduction of 2.2% after 40 weeks of treatment versus a 1.9% reduction in the 1 mg Ozempic arm.
Meanwhile, subgroup analyses after the study wrapped showed that Ozempic 2 mg topped the lower dose in patients across a range of baseline blood sugar levels.
Patients who came into the study with a mean A1C of less than 9% saw a 1.9% reduction in the higher dose compared to a 1.7% reduction in the 1-mg arm reduction.
Patients with baseline A1C of at least 9% saw reductions of 2.6% versus 2.3% among patients on the lower dose.
Ozempic 2 mg helped patients lose 6.9 kg, statistically significant compared with the 6 kg lost by patients on the lower dose, provided they took the drug as directed.
Ozempic already comes in 0.5 mg and 1 mg doses injected weekly.
The data bodes well for Ozempic 2 mg’s application at the FDA, which Novo re-submitted in May.
Price Action: NVO shares closed at $82.8 on Friday.