Novo Nordisk presented new findings from its Wegovy and Cagrilintide trials in obesity management at the ongoing European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2025 congress in Vienna, Austria.

Results from its US-based INFORM survey showed that people taking semaglutide for weight management (Wegovy) experienced a substantial drop in “food noise” – unwanted and intrusive thoughts about food – alongside notable improvements in their mental well-being and lifestyle.

The survey reported a decline of 46 percent in the number of people experiencing constant thoughts about food throughout the day (reported by 62 percent before starting Wegovy). The proportion of participants who reported that food noise negatively affected their lives fell from 60 percent to 20 percent.

Additionally, 64 percent reported better mental health, 76 percent adopted a healthier lifestyle, 80 percent developed healthier habits, and 83 percent expressed overall satisfaction after starting Wegovy treatment.

“There are so many factors that challenge people with overweight or obesity in their efforts to lose weight, including food noise. It is very encouraging to see these new data from people using Wegovy that, in addition to weight loss, Wegovy may help quiet disruptive thoughts about food, support improved mental well-being and help enable people to live healthier lives,” said Filip Knop, senior vice president and incoming chief medical officer at Novo Nordisk.   

Novo Nordisk also released data from a sub-analysis of the phase 3 REDEFINE 1 trial, which investigated once-weekly cagrilintide 2.4 mg monotherapy in adults with obesity or overweight and a weight-related comorbidity, but without diabetes.

Cagrilintide, a long-acting amylin analogue, mimics the naturally occurring hormone amylin and works differently than currently approved GLP-1-based treatments for weight loss.

Findings showed that patients on cagrilintide achieved an average body weight reduction of 11.8 percent after 68 weeks, versus 2.3 percent with placebo. Moreover, nearly one in three participants on cagrilintide achieved at least 15 percent weight loss, compared around 1 in 20 participants on placebo.    

“These data highlight the exciting potential of cagrilintide to offer an alternative approach for people to lose weight, achieve health-related outcomes and manage their obesity, including a favourable tolerability profile,” said lead investigator Timothy Garvey, professor of medicine and director of the Diabetes Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Like other chronic diseases, we need a range of treatment options to address the individual needs of people with obesity, such as their own specific response to treatment,” he added.     

Novo Nordisk confirmed that its dedicated phase 3 RENEW programme will further evaluate the efficacy and safety of cagrilintide in people with obesity or overweight, and it's scheduled to begin in Q4 2025.