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A manufacturer-funded clinical trial has identified that a third of participants taking semaglutide 25mg tablets may be early responders.

Novo Nordisk’s Oasis 4 clinical trial, findings from which have been presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, found that a third of adults in the test group achieved an average weight loss of 13.2 per cent after four months and 21.6 per cent after 64 weeks.

Those not classed as early responders achieved an average weight loss of 11.5 per cent after 64 weeks – the endpoint of the trial.  

Professor Partha Kar, a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology, said: “Obesity management isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It’s nuanced, and individual responses can differ quite markedly. 

“With anti-obesity medications, some people will notice changes sooner, others more gradually, but early signals can help clinicians and patients understand whether treatment is on track and guide timely, informed conversations. 

“The real value lies in following the journey over time and interpreting progress in context.  

“That’s what enables clinicians and patients to have honest, individualised conversations about what’s happening, what’s realistic and how we define success for each person.” 

The Oasis trial also found that eight in 10 who complained of poor physical function achieved “meaningful improvements in their ability to move” compared to placebo. 

Sebnem Avsar Tuna, UK general manager with Novo Nordisk, commented: “This is an important reminder that living with obesity can impact much more than body weight alone. 

“It can influence how comfortable people feel moving through their daily lives, from standing for longer periods to bending down or staying active. 

“These new findings add to our understanding of how oral semaglutide may affect not only weight loss, but also aspects of physical function that can matter to people in very practical, everyday ways.”

Wegovy tablets have been approved for use in the United States since early January, with an MHRA decision on whether to approve the product for UK patients expected later this year. 

Novo Nordisk said that the safety profile for semaglutide 25mg tablets has been found to be comparable to the injectable product and that the “vast majority” of adverse events were “mild to moderate and diminished over time”.