Novo Nordisk's chief scientific officer says assuming that there is further weight loss potential to be had with CagriSema

Novo Nordisk's chief scientific officer says assuming that there is further weight loss potential to be had with CagriSema

Novo Nordisk’s CagriSema Trial Highlights Mixed Results in Obesity Treatment Development

Novo Nordisk’s REDEFINE 4 trial of CagriSema, a fixed-dose combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide, reported a 23% weight loss after 84 weeks in patients with obesity, yet failed to meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating non-inferiority to tirzepatide 15 mg. The open-label, phase 3 trial involved 809 participants with a mean baseline weight of 114.2 kg. Under full treatment adherence, CagriSema achieved 23.0% weight loss compared to 25.5% with tirzepatide. However, using the treatment-regimen estimand (accounting for adherence), weight loss was 20.2% for CagriSema versus 23.6% for tirzepatide.

The trial’s open-label design—where both investigators and participants knew the assigned treatment—may have influenced outcomes, though CagriSema demonstrated a safety profile consistent with GLP-1 receptor agonists, with gastrointestinal adverse events being most common and generally mild to moderate according to company data.

Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk’s chief scientific officer, acknowledged the 23% weight loss as a “pleasing” result but emphasized the need to explore CagriSema’s full potential. The company plans to initiate a higher-dose trial (2.4 mg/7.2 mg) in H2 2026 and await results from REDEFINE 11, which will assess long-term efficacy and weight maintenance. These steps aim to address gaps in the current formulation’s performance relative to competitors like tirzepatide.

CagriSema’s FDA submission for weight management, based on REDEFINE 1 and 2 trials, awaits a late-2026 decision. If approved, it could position Novo Nordisk as a leader in GLP-1/amylin combination therapies, though the REDEFINE 4 results underscore competitive challenges in the obesity drug market. Investors will closely watch upcoming trials and regulatory outcomes to gauge the product’s commercial viability.

(https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916501): Novo Nordisk, “News Details,” 23 February 2026.
(https://finance.yahoo.com/news/novo-nordisk-cagrisema-demonstrated-23-093300776.html): Yahoo Finance, “Novo Nordisk A/S: CagriSema demonstrated 23% weight loss…,” 23 February 2026.
(https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916501): Novo Nordisk, “News Details,” 23 February 2026.
(https://finance.yahoo.com/news/novo-nordisk-cagrisema-demonstrated-23-093300776.html): Novo Nordisk, “News Details,” 23 February 2026.