New Delhi: Semaglutide, a fat-busting weekly injectable that has been a global smash hit since its launch five years ago, may soon have a successor that promises to be even more effective in shedding those extra kilos. On a call with investors last week, Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk shared some teasers about CagriSema, the next generation of semaglutide which is sold under the brand names Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for obesity). This has created massive buzz internationally and expectations that it may be even more potent in managing obesity—a disorder linked to several metabolic conditions.
Novo Nordisk’s executive president of development Martin Holst Lange told the media and investors in London that larger trials are likely to show that CagriSema — currently in the phase III trial — will help users lose up to 25 percent of their weight , adding that the company used data from previous trials to arrive at that number. Semaglutide helps regulate blood sugar levels, and works by binding to receptors of the gut hormone Glucagon-like peptide – 1 (GLP-1). It contains a compound known as (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which mimics the naturally occurring gut hormone known to send signals of a full appetite to the brain.
It is known to reduce body weight by around 15 percent after 68 weeks on average. On the other hand, semaglutide’s close competitor tirzepatide —a drug by US pharma firm Eli Lilly and Company which is available under brand names Mounjaro (for dia.