A drug used to treat people with type 2 diabetes is also effective in helping obese people lose weight, a groundbreaking study found.
The drug semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempicand Rybelsus, was given to adults with an average BMI of 38.
The 2.4 mg dose was self-administered once a week by the participants via a subcutaneous injection, similar to an insulin injection.
More than a third (35 percent) of people who took the drug lost more than a fifth of their total body weight.
Three quarters (75 percent) of the people who received semaglutide lost more than 10 percent of their body weight.
Researchers say the findings are game-changer because weight loss can be achieved in people who would otherwise need surgery.
For those taking semaglutide, the mean weight loss was 15.3 kg, with a decrease in BMI of minus 5.54.
The placebo group observed an average weight loss of 2.6 kg (0.4 stone) with a decrease in BMI of minus 0.92, more than five times less than those taking the drug.
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The drug semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempicand Rybelsus, was given to adults with an average BMI of 38. More than a third (35 percent) of people taking the drug lost more than a fifth of their total body weight.
The findings are lauded for their potential to improve the health of obese people.
They could play an important role in helping the UK mitigate the impact of diseases, such as Covid-19, experts suggest.
Semaglutide is already approved for use in humans, but it is normally prescribed to diabetics at a dose of 1 mg.
The latest semaglutide study is currently in phase three studies with an increased dose of 2.4 mg.
With evidence from this study, semaglutide has been submitted for approval to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for regulatory approval as a treatment for obesity.
The drug works by hijacking the body’s appetite-regulating system in the brain, leading to reduced hunger and calorie intake.
The study recruited nearly 2,000 people from 16 countries, spanning more than a year, starting in the fall of 2018.
Rachel Batterham, professor of obesity, diabetes and endocrinology at UCL who led the study, said: “The findings of this study represent an important breakthrough for improving the health of obese people.
Three-quarters (75 percent) of the people who received 2.4 mg of semaglutide lost more than 10 percent of their body weight and more than a third lost more than 20 percent.
No other drug has reached this level of weight loss – this is truly a game changer.
“For the first time, people can achieve with drugs what was only possible through weight loss surgery.”
Professor Batterham added that the drug could have major implications for UK health policy in the coming years.
The average study participant lost 15.3 kg (nearly three stones), according to the study published in the New England Journal for Medicine.
This was associated with decreases in waist circumference, blood fats, blood sugar and blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The UK lead investigator of the study, Professor John Wilding of the University of Liverpool, said: ‘This is a significant advance in the treatment of obesity.
“Semaglutide has already been approved and is used clinically at a lower dose to treat diabetes, so as doctors we are already familiar with its use.”


For those taking semaglutide, the mean weight loss was 15.3 kg, with a decrease in BMI of minus 5.54. The placebo group observed an average weight loss of 2.6 kg (0.4 stone) with a decrease in BMI of minus 0.92, more than five times less than those taking the drug
People enrolled in the study were given either the drug or a placebo and also had access to individual face-to-face or telephone counseling sessions from registered dietitians every four weeks, as well as counseling to help with behavioral strategies and motivation.
In addition, participants received incentives such as kettle bells or food scales to mark progress and milestones.
Some participants reported side effects to the drug, including mild to moderate nausea and diarrhea, which were transient and generally resolved without permanently discontinuing the study.
Dr. Baptiste Leurent of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who was not involved in the study, says this should be closely monitored.
“We also need to better understand what happens once the treatment is stopped and whether it can be taken for a shorter period of time,” he adds.
Dr. Amelia Hollywood, a health psychologist at the University of Reading, added: “ It is promising to hear that there is another potential weight loss drug that can be offered to patients as it is currently the only one that has proven to be safe and effective. orlistat.
‘This will be good news for clinicians and patients. However, it’s worth noting that not only did people inject this drug and lose weight, they also had to change their behavior. ‘