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FDA OKs Stronger Wegovy for More Weight Loss
20 Mar
Summary
- New 7.2mg Wegovy dose approved by FDA for greater weight loss.
- Higher dose helped study participants lose nearly 19% body weight.
- Common side effects like nausea increased with higher Wegovy dose.
Federal regulators have approved a new, higher-dose version of the obesity drug Wegovy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared a 7.2-milligram dose of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, for use. Previously, the highest approved dose was 2.4 milligrams. This new dosage received an accelerated review.
The higher-dose Wegovy, known as Wegovy HD, was shown in a study to help participants lose about 19% of their body weight over nearly 17 months. This is compared to approximately 16% weight loss achieved with the lower 2.4-milligram dose. The development of the higher dose was prompted by observations that some individuals do not reach their therapeutic weight loss goals with the existing highest dose.
This new 7.2-milligram dose will be available in U.S. pharmacies starting in April. European drug regulators had previously approved this higher-dose version in February. While offering potential for greater weight loss, the new formulation also reported increased side effects. Nausea, vomiting, and constipation occurred in over 70% of those taking the higher dose, compared to over 60% on the lower dose.
