Overview
- Once‑weekly Wegovy HD (semaglutide 7.2 mg) won U.S. approval for adults with obesity who have tolerated the 2.4 mg dose and require further weight loss, with Novo Nordisk targeting an April pharmacy rollout.
- In STEP UP trials, Wegovy HD delivered a 20.7% mean weight loss at 72 weeks and 31.2% of participants reached at least 25% loss; among patients with type 2 diabetes, mean loss was 14.1%.
- Safety data list typical gastrointestinal events and a higher rate of altered skin sensations at 7.2 mg (22% vs 6% with 2.4 mg), which the FDA said it is investigating as a potential reaction signal.
- Eli Lilly reported that its triple‑agonist retatrutide met primary and key secondary goals in a late‑stage diabetes trial, cutting HbA1c by about 1.7%–2.0% and driving weight loss up to 16.8% at 40 weeks, with additional phase 3 readouts expected this year.
- Semaglutide patents expire in India on March 20, opening the door to dozens of branded generics and co‑marketing deals, including Zydus manufacturing injections that Torrent will sell under the Sembolic brand, with steep price declines forecast.