More efficacious dose of Wegovy ® recommended by the European Medicines Agency can help people with obesity achieve an average of 20.7% weight loss
Dubai(News Desk)::The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion for a higher dose of Wegovy ®(semaglutide 7.2 mg), bringing it a step closer to offering individuals with obesity in the EU a newWegovy ® option for even greater weight loss. The new dose of Wegovy ® has demonstrated an average weight loss of 20.7% at 72 weeks, in people with obesity who do not have diabetes. * These substantial weight loss results complement the already established health benefits of Wegovy ® in obesity-related complications, including significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, and reduction in pain from knee osteoarthritis.
The positive opinion is based on the results from the STEP UP and STEP UP T2D clinical trial programme in people with obesity with and without type 2 diabetes. 1,4 In people with obesity and without diabetes, one in three participants treated with Wegovy ® achieved 25% or more weight loss at 72 weeks, with a safety and tolerability profile consistent with the approved Wegovy ® 2.4 mg
semaglutide dose. Data showed that the majority (84%) of the weight lost with Wegovy ® came from fat mass loss, with tests confirming muscle function was preserved. 5,6 “This positive opinion means a new Wegovy ® option, delivering weight loss of 20.7%, could be
available for people with obesity early in the new year, pending the European Commission’s final approval. Wegovy ® has proven health benefits in obesity, helping people reach their individual weight goals while preserving muscle function and reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events,” said Ludovic Helfgott, executive vice president and head of Product & Portfolio Strategy at Novo Nordisk.
“For those who want greater weight loss, there could soon be additional options with Wegovy ® so that even more people with obesity have the benefits that can improve their everyday lives and long-term health outcomes.”
“We are excited about this new development and look forward to bringing new innovation to the UAE and taking bold steps to fight obesity,” said Dr. Cecilia Radu, General Manager at Novo Nordisk UAE. “It also shows that besides tackling weight loss, this is a strong disease-modifying therapy for health risk reduction. It’s part of a much bigger picture.”
Dr. Ali M. Aldibbiat, Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, UAE, said: “The STEP-UP studies are a testament to the impressive safety and efficacy of semaglutide. Over the past few years, semaglutide has proven to be a highly effective therapy, helping countless patients living with diabetes and/or obesity significantly improve their
health outcomes.”
“The availability of wider dosing options will enable more patients to achieve their treatment goals without compromising safety, as clearly demonstrated by the STEP-UP trial. The European Medicines Agency’s positive opinion on Wegovy® (semaglutide) 7.2 mg is very encouraging, and we look forward to the completion of the approval process in the near future, so that patients in the UAE who
require higher doses of semaglutide can begin to benefit from this important treatment option,” Dr. Ali added.
Novo Nordisk has also applied to the EMA for a single-dose device to deliver Wegovy ® 7.2 mg.Additionally, semaglutide 7.2 mg is currently under review in the US, UK and several other countries. In the US, Novo Nordisk received the Commissioners National Priority Voucher (CNPV) and submitted semaglutide 7.2 mg to the FDA in November 2025. Under the CNPV expedited
programme, review is expected within 1–2 months following the FDA’s acceptance of the filing.
