Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema shows 25% weight loss in female-focused analysis

The findings emerge from a study of approximately 2,300 women with obesity or overweight, where participants achieved significant reductions in body mass compared to a 3% loss in the placebo group. A secondary analysis of 1,900 women further segmented these results by menopausal status, showing weight loss of 26.7% for premenopausal, 24.8% for perimenopausal, and 23.1% for postmenopausal women. Beyond total weight reduction, the drug was associated with a decrease in waist circumference, signaling a potential improvement in abdominal fat markers.

CagriSema combines semaglutide—the active ingredient in Wegovy—with cagrilintide, a hormone that regulates hunger. While initial phase 3 trial results reported an average weight loss of 22.7% across a mixed-gender group, these new figures highlight that women may experience higher efficacy. Michelle Skinner Moore, interim head of clinical development at Novo, stated that exploring the drug’s impact across the reproductive lifespan is essential given the metabolic shifts associated with menopause. Despite past investor skepticism regarding the drug's growth potential, analysts project CagriSema could reach $11.84 billion in annual obesity-related sales by 2028.