By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 20, 2026 6:34 pm
The 60-week, randomised Phase III study will enrol 450 adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one obesity-related health condition
Novo Nordisk has initiated a late-stage clinical trial to assess whether lower doses of its oral obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide) can deliver meaningful weight loss, as the Danish drugmaker faces intensifying competition in the rapidly expanding obesity treatment market.
According to the US clinical trials database, the company began the OASIS-5 study earlier this month, with the trial expected to continue through 2028.
The 60-week, randomised Phase III study will enrol 450 adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one obesity-related health condition. Participants will have previously attempted and failed to lose weight.
The trial will compare two lower, unspecified doses of oral semaglutide against placebo.
The primary objective is to determine whether the reduced doses can produce greater weight loss than placebo. Secondary measures include changes in waist circumference, other health markers and safety outcomes.
Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy is currently approved at a 25 mg maintenance dose, while lower strengths of 1.5 mg, 4 mg and 9 mg are also available. The company has not disclosed which lower doses will be evaluated in OASIS-5.
The study excludes people with diabetes, those who have experienced significant recent weight changes and individuals currently receiving GLP-1-based treatments.
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar told Reuters that some people are already using lower doses of obesity medicines on their own, noting that patients may be seeking benefits beyond weight reduction.
The move comes as Novo Nordisk competes increasingly closely with Eli Lilly in the obesity drug market, which is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030.
In November 2025, Novo Nordisk reported results from the Phase III OASIS 4 programme showing that once-weekly oral semaglutide 25 mg reduced body weight and improved several cardiovascular risk factors in adults with overweight or obesity.
The new OASIS-5 study could help determine whether lower-dose oral semaglutide can offer a more flexible treatment option while potentially broadening the use of Wegovy in the growing obesity market.