Novo Nordisk's CEO: I am still incredibly optimistic about CagriSema
TL;DR
Novo Nordisk's CEO remains optimistic about CagriSema despite mixed trial results, with plans for new Phase 3 trials and a mid-2026 approval target. The company is refining its strategy to enhance efficacy and expand its obesity care portfolio.
Novo Nordisk's CEO: I am still incredibly optimistic about CagriSema
Novo Nordisk’s CEO: I Am Still Incredibly Optimistic About CagriSema
According to the 2024 annual report
Despite mixed results from recent clinical trials, Novo Nordisk’s CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen has reiterated confidence in the long-term potential of CagriSema, the company’s next-generation obesity drug. In the 2024 annual report, Jørgensen emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation and its strategic focus on addressing unmet needs in chronic disease management, including obesity and diabetes.
CagriSema, a fixed-dose combination of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) and cagrilintide (an amylin receptor agonist), has shown promising but inconsistent outcomes in clinical trials. In the REDEFINE 1 trial, CagriSema achieved a 22.7% weight loss compared to 16.1% with semaglutide alone after 68 weeks. However, the REDEFINE 4 trial, which compared CagriSema to Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide (Zepbound), fell short of its primary endpoint, with CagriSema demonstrating 23% weight loss versus 25.5% for tirzepatide.
Novo Nordisk has responded by refining its clinical strategy. The company announced plans for a new Phase 3 trial, REDEFINE 11, which will focus on dose escalation and extended treatment duration to better assess CagriSema’s efficacy ceiling. Martin Holst Lange, Novo’s chief scientific officer, noted that weight loss in high-dose subgroups did not plateau during earlier trials, suggesting potential for further optimization.
The company also highlighted its broader investment in obesity care, including partnerships like Cities for Better Health and expanded manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for GLP-1-based therapies. In 2024, Novo Nordisk served 45.2 million patients globally, with GLP-1 market share reaching 63%.
While CagriSema faces competition from Lilly’s Zepbound, which has demonstrated higher weight loss in head-to-head trials, Novo remains focused on its regulatory pathway. The company aims to submit CagriSema for approval in mid-2026, pending results from ongoing trials. Jørgensen’s optimism reflects Novo’s long-term vision to expand its portfolio of transformative therapies, even as it navigates near-term challenges in clinical development.
Annual Report 2024, Novo Nordisk
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