High-Dose Once-Weekly Semaglutide: A New Option for Obesity Management

Abstract

Objective: To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of high-dose once-weekly semaglutide for chronic weight management.

Data sources: PubMed/MEDLINE and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched (inception to September 8, 2021) using keywords "semaglutide" and "obesity," "weight," "high dose," "high-dose," or "2.4."

Study selection and data extraction: Clinical trials with published results were included. Publications studying the oral or <2.4 mg formulation of semaglutide were excluded.

Data synthesis: Four phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind trials demonstrated efficacy of high-dose once-weekly semaglutide compared with placebo for weight loss. Study populations included patients with overweight or obesity (STEP 1, STEP 3, and STEP 4) or patients with diabetes and with overweight or obesity (STEP 2). Lifestyle interventions for diet and exercise were included for all participants. Weight loss from baseline was significant for all studies, and secondary outcomes demonstrated cardiometabolic improvements including waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and lipid profiles. Gastrointestinal adverse effects were common, but the medication was otherwise well tolerated.

Relevance to patient care and clinical practice: High-dose semaglutide offers significant weight-lowering potential and favorable effects on cardiometabolic risk factors and glycemic indices. Clinicians and patients should consider the route and frequency of administration, adverse effect profile, and cost when choosing an antiobesity medication. The importance of concomitant lifestyle interventions should be emphasized.

Conclusions: High-dose once-weekly semaglutide can significantly reduce weight, and although gastrointestinal adverse effects were common, it is generally well tolerated.

Keywords: antiobesity agents; diabetes; glucagon-like peptide 1; obesity; semaglutide; weight loss.