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Novo's Wegovy Pill Shows Weight Loss After Switching From Injections
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Key Takeaways
Novo's oral Wegovy delivered 4.1% average weight loss after three months in the OCTANE study.
40.7% of participants achieved at least 5% weight loss, while 82.4% reported treatment improvements.
CagriSema reduced abdominal, liver and pancreatic fat while maintaining bone health with weight loss.
Novo’s (NVO - Free Report) oral Wegovy (semaglutide) is showing real-world weight-loss benefits among adults with overweight or obesity who switched from injectable GLP-1 therapies. Data from the OCTANE study found that people moving from Eli Lilly’s (LLY - Free Report) Zepbound (tirzepatide) or injectable Wegovy to once-daily oral Wegovy lost an average of 4.1% of body weight after three months, highlighting the potential of an oral option for patients seeking an alternative to injections.
Oral pills offer greater convenience than injectable therapies, making treatment easier to incorporate into daily routines and potentially supporting better treatment adherence.
The retrospective OCTANE study analyzed de-identified data from the Ro telehealth platform involving adults with overweight or obesity who switched from injectable Wegovy or LLY’s Zepbound to the Wegovy pill between Jan. 5 and Feb. 7, 2026. The analysis included 194 participants who remained on oral Wegovy for three months and had weight data available at baseline and follow-up. The OCTANE data were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) on Sept. 30, 2026.
NVO’s Wegovy Pill Shows Weight Loss After Switching
Per Novo, participants experienced a statistically significant average weight loss of four kilograms (8.8 pounds) over three months after switching to the Wegovy pill, equivalent to 4.1% of baseline body weight. The findings provide early real-world evidence on weight outcomes after switching from injectable GLP-1-based therapies to oral Wegovy.
The analysis also showed that 40.7% of participants achieved at least 5% weight loss after three months. At the same time, the share of patients with a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2 declined by 21.6 percentage points, falling from 87.1% at baseline to 65.5% at three months. Among participants with available information, 82.4% reported at least one treatment improvement, with better-fitting clothes and healthier eating among the most frequently reported benefits.
Year to date, NVO shares have lost 25.3% against the industry’s 12.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, Novo cautioned that the results should be viewed in the context of the study’s observational design. Real-world evidence can complement randomized controlled studies but does not establish causality. Variable data collection, self-reported measures, potential selection bias from requiring treatment persistence and limited generalizability to the broader population were among the study’s stated limitations.
Novo’s Wegovy pill has been launched in the United States, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Germany. Novo plans to introduce the pill in additional select markets in the coming quarters.
Novo’s CagriSema Shows Benefits Beyond Weight and Blood Sugar
Separately, Novo also presented data on CagriSema, its investigational once-weekly combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide, at the EASD conference. In a 52-week functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in adults with overweight or obesity, CagriSema altered brain responses to high-calorie food cues in areas associated with cravings, reward, sensory processing and behavioral control. Treatment was also associated with improvements in eating behavior, lower food-related thoughts, hunger and cravings, as well as better craving control at 22 and 52 weeks. These changes coincided with a 22.4% reduction in body weight compared with placebo at 52 weeks.
Additional analyses examined CagriSema’s effects beyond weight reduction. In a diabetes MRI sub-study from the phase IIIa REIMAGINE 1 study in adults with early type II diabetes (T2D), CagriSema 2.4 mg/2.4 mg reduced abdominal fat and fat around the liver and pancreas compared with placebo, alongside a 14.3% body-weight reduction at week 40. A post hoc analysis from the phase III REIMAGINE 2 study in adults with inadequately controlled T2D also indicated a healthy balance in bone maintenance alongside a 14.2% weight reduction at week 68, providing preliminary reassurance regarding bone changes alongside substantial weight loss in the analyzed population.
Once-weekly subcutaneous CagriSema is currently being evaluated across several late-stage studies in Novo’s REDEFINE obesity program and REIMAGINE T2D program. The company submitted a new drug application to the FDA seeking approval of CagriSema for weight management in December 2025. A decision from the regulatory body is expected in the fourth quarter. In 2026, Novo initiated a phase III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-dose CagriSema 2.4 mg/7.2 mg in adults with obesity.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for AC Immune’s 2026 loss per share have narrowed from 84 cents to 60 cents. Over the same period, earnings estimates for 2027 remained unchanged at 17 cents. ACIU shares have lost 16.9% year to date.
AC Immune’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 33.25%.
Over the past 60 days, loss per share estimates for Aldeyra Therapeutics have narrowed from 43 cents to 39 cents for 2026. Over the same period, estimates for 2027 loss per share have narrowed from 22 cents to 16 cents. ALDX shares have plunged 76.4% year to date.
Aldeyra Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 29.25%.
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Novo's Wegovy Pill Shows Weight Loss After Switching From Injections
Key Takeaways
Novo’s (NVO - Free Report) oral Wegovy (semaglutide) is showing real-world weight-loss benefits among adults with overweight or obesity who switched from injectable GLP-1 therapies. Data from the OCTANE study found that people moving from Eli Lilly’s (LLY - Free Report) Zepbound (tirzepatide) or injectable Wegovy to once-daily oral Wegovy lost an average of 4.1% of body weight after three months, highlighting the potential of an oral option for patients seeking an alternative to injections.
Oral pills offer greater convenience than injectable therapies, making treatment easier to incorporate into daily routines and potentially supporting better treatment adherence.
The retrospective OCTANE study analyzed de-identified data from the Ro telehealth platform involving adults with overweight or obesity who switched from injectable Wegovy or LLY’s Zepbound to the Wegovy pill between Jan. 5 and Feb. 7, 2026. The analysis included 194 participants who remained on oral Wegovy for three months and had weight data available at baseline and follow-up. The OCTANE data were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) on Sept. 30, 2026.
NVO’s Wegovy Pill Shows Weight Loss After Switching
Per Novo, participants experienced a statistically significant average weight loss of four kilograms (8.8 pounds) over three months after switching to the Wegovy pill, equivalent to 4.1% of baseline body weight. The findings provide early real-world evidence on weight outcomes after switching from injectable GLP-1-based therapies to oral Wegovy.
The analysis also showed that 40.7% of participants achieved at least 5% weight loss after three months. At the same time, the share of patients with a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2 declined by 21.6 percentage points, falling from 87.1% at baseline to 65.5% at three months. Among participants with available information, 82.4% reported at least one treatment improvement, with better-fitting clothes and healthier eating among the most frequently reported benefits.
Year to date, NVO shares have lost 25.3% against the industry’s 12.9% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, Novo cautioned that the results should be viewed in the context of the study’s observational design. Real-world evidence can complement randomized controlled studies but does not establish causality. Variable data collection, self-reported measures, potential selection bias from requiring treatment persistence and limited generalizability to the broader population were among the study’s stated limitations.
Novo’s Wegovy pill has been launched in the United States, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Germany. Novo plans to introduce the pill in additional select markets in the coming quarters.
Novo’s CagriSema Shows Benefits Beyond Weight and Blood Sugar
Separately, Novo also presented data on CagriSema, its investigational once-weekly combination of cagrilintide and semaglutide, at the EASD conference. In a 52-week functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in adults with overweight or obesity, CagriSema altered brain responses to high-calorie food cues in areas associated with cravings, reward, sensory processing and behavioral control. Treatment was also associated with improvements in eating behavior, lower food-related thoughts, hunger and cravings, as well as better craving control at 22 and 52 weeks. These changes coincided with a 22.4% reduction in body weight compared with placebo at 52 weeks.
Additional analyses examined CagriSema’s effects beyond weight reduction. In a diabetes MRI sub-study from the phase IIIa REIMAGINE 1 study in adults with early type II diabetes (T2D), CagriSema 2.4 mg/2.4 mg reduced abdominal fat and fat around the liver and pancreas compared with placebo, alongside a 14.3% body-weight reduction at week 40. A post hoc analysis from the phase III REIMAGINE 2 study in adults with inadequately controlled T2D also indicated a healthy balance in bone maintenance alongside a 14.2% weight reduction at week 68, providing preliminary reassurance regarding bone changes alongside substantial weight loss in the analyzed population.
Once-weekly subcutaneous CagriSema is currently being evaluated across several late-stage studies in Novo’s REDEFINE obesity program and REIMAGINE T2D program. The company submitted a new drug application to the FDA seeking approval of CagriSema for weight management in December 2025. A decision from the regulatory body is expected in the fourth quarter. In 2026, Novo initiated a phase III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-dose CagriSema 2.4 mg/7.2 mg in adults with obesity.
Novo Nordisk A/S Price and Consensus
Novo Nordisk A/S price-consensus-chart | Novo Nordisk A/S Quote
NVO's Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Novo currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are AC Immune (ACIU - Free Report) and Aldeyra Therapeutics (ALDX - Free Report) , carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for AC Immune’s 2026 loss per share have narrowed from 84 cents to 60 cents. Over the same period, earnings estimates for 2027 remained unchanged at 17 cents. ACIU shares have lost 16.9% year to date.
AC Immune’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 33.25%.
Over the past 60 days, loss per share estimates for Aldeyra Therapeutics have narrowed from 43 cents to 39 cents for 2026. Over the same period, estimates for 2027 loss per share have narrowed from 22 cents to 16 cents. ALDX shares have plunged 76.4% year to date.
Aldeyra Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average surprise of 29.25%.