STAT+: Novo Nordisk’s next-gen obesity drug stumbles in comparison study

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/novo-nordisk-cagrisema-fail-comparison-trial...

Published: Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:24:06 +0000

Novo Nordisk's CagriSema is an experimental new-generation drug for the treatment of obesity that combines the substances cagrilintide and semaglutide[1][4][5]. In an advanced phase 3 study, after 68 weeks of treatment, patients lost an average of 22.7% of their body weight[1][4][5]. This result was lower than the expected 25%[1][5]. Compared to Eli Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide), weight loss was only slightly higher at 20.2% for Zepbound[1]. The study was conducted in a late phase and showed insufficient performance of CagriSema in a head-to-head comparison[1]. Novo Nordisk is planning further tests to verify the drug's potential[4]. Shares in Novo Nordisk fell more than 20% after the results were released[1].