Novo Study Shows Experimental Drug Beat Competitor in Low-Dose Trial

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk released new study results for its experimental weight loss drug. The trial compared low doses of Cagrisema and Eli Lilly's drug tirzepatide.

Patients taking one milligram of Cagrisema lost 12.4 percent of their weight. This weight loss occurred over a 60-week period. Patients taking five milligrams of tirzepatide lost 9.1 percent of their weight. Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in the weight loss drug Zepbound.

Cagrisema combines semaglutide with a new substance called cagrilintide. Semaglutide is the active ingredient used in Novo's popular drug Wegovy. Novo hopes this combination will deliver better results than semaglutide alone.

The new drug has not received regulatory approval yet. Novo expects a decision from the US FDA near the end of 2026.

Earlier study results released in February had favored tirzepatide. In that trial, tirzepatide users lost 25.5 percent over 84 weeks. Cagrisema users lost 23 percent during that same period. Novo shares fell more than 16 percent after those earlier February findings.

The company announced the latest trial data during its capital markets day. Novo shares dropped over five percent around midday on Monday.