Drug updated on 6/24/2024
| Dosage Form | Injection (subcutaneous; pre-filled, single-dose pen that delivers doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg) |
| Drug Class | Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists |
| Ongoing and Completed Studies | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Indication
- Indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.
- Indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity and in adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition.
Latest News
Summary
- Semaglutide (Wegovy) is indicated for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight. It is also utilized to reduce excess body weight and maintain long-term weight reduction in adults, as well as pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity.
- The information was derived from a total of 19 systematic review/meta-analysis documents related to Wegovy (Semaglutide).
- Semaglutide has demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing body weight, BMI, and waist circumference across various studies. When compared to other GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), it frequently emerged as the most effective among them.
- In terms of safety profile, gastrointestinal side effects were common, but serious adverse events did not differ significantly between Semaglutide and comparators, indicating an acceptable safety profile.
- Evidence suggests that this drug is effective across various subgroups including adults with/without type 2 diabetes along with pediatric populations. However, there is an evidence gap for children regarding long-term outcomes and weight maintenance.
- Combination therapies involving Semaglutide have been emphasized for achieving better results, underlining the importance of dosage considerations in treatment effectiveness.
- Semaglutide ranked highly when compared to other treatments available for obesity, particularly at a dose of 2.4 mg, suggesting its viability as a non-surgical option against bariatric surgery.
- The role of Semaglutide remains less explored during the transitioning phase from intensive medical treatment, especially concerning mental health recovery and obesity-related comorbidities, despite strong support towards its use based on current evidence.
Product Monograph / Prescribing Information
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy (semaglutide injection) Prescribing Information. | 2024 | Novo Nordisk |
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
Clinical Practice Guidelines
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Current and future state of pharmacological management of pediatric obesity. | 2024 | International Journal of Obesity |
| Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with obesity. | 2023 | Pediatrics |
| Obesity pharmacotherapy: a review of current practices and future directions. | 2023 | Nutrition and Obesity (C Newberry, Section Editor) |
| A review of current guidelines for the treatment of obesity. | 2022 | American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) |
| Pharmacotherapy for obesity management. | 2022 | Obesity Canada |
| AGA clinical practice guideline on pharmacological interventions for adults with obesity. | 2022 | Gastroenterology |
| Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists: Findings and implications of cardiovascular outcomes trials. | 2020 | Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants |