**Novo Nordisk Faces Investor Pressure Over CagriSema Obesity Drug Trial Results**
Novo Nordisk is facing mounting pressure from investors for clarity regarding its next-generation obesity drug candidate, CagriSema, following disappointing trial results that significantly impacted its stock value in December. The company believes CagriSema has the potential to outperform its successful weight-loss injection, Wegovy, but concerns linger about its ability to reclaim market dominance from competitor Eli Lilly.
In interviews with five trial participants, they reported that the weekly injection effectively aided in weight loss, but they experienced notable side effects, including nausea, constipation, and fatigue. Novo’s December report indicated that the most common adverse events were gastrointestinal, primarily mild to moderate, and tended to decrease over time, aligning with the profile of other GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs.
As Novo is currently in a regulatory quiet period ahead of its quarterly results announcement on February 5, it has refrained from commenting on the situation. However, the patient interviews provide some insight into the experiences of those using CagriSema, potentially addressing concerns regarding side effects and dosing.
The trial’s weaker-than-anticipated data was a setback for Novo’s aspirations to develop a more potent alternative to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (Mounjaro). CagriSema combines semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, with cagrilintide, which mimics the pancreatic hormone amylin. One participant shared that she experienced fainting spells during the initial six months on CagriSema but ultimately lost 29% of her body weight over the 68-week trial.
Novo reported that participants who adhered to the CagriSema treatment plan achieved an average weight loss of 22.7% after 68 weeks, with 40.4% losing 25% or more, which fell short of the expected 25% overall weight loss. This disappointment led to a staggering $125 billion drop in Novo’s market value on the day of the announcement. Additionally, only 57.3% of patients reached the highest dose of the medication.
