The European Commission has approved a new, more potent 7.2 mg once-weekly dose of Wegovy (semaglutide) for adults living with obesity, offering doctors a powerful tool to help patients achieve significant weight loss. The approval covers all 27 EU member states.

 

“This approval is another important step in helping people living with obesity reach very significant weight loss,” said Emil Kongshøj Larsen, executive vice president, International Operations, Novo Nordisk. “The new dose gives healthcare professionals even more flexibility to tailor treatment and help people with obesity achieve their weight loss and health goals.”

 

The decision follows data from the 1,407-participant STEP UP study, which lasted roughly 18 months. Participants on the 7.2 mg dose, combined with lifestyle changes, lost an average of 21% of their body weight, compared with just 2% for those on placebo. Nearly one in three participants lost 25% or more of their body weight.

 

Importantly, the majority of the weight lost—84%—came from fat, with muscle function preserved. The most common side effects were mild to moderate and transient, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting (24.8%), and dysaesthesia (22.9%).

 

Wegovy is now offered in six weekly doses in the EU: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg, and the newly approved 7.2 mg dose, which can be administered as three 2.4 mg injections in one sitting. Novo Nordisk has also applied for a single-dose 7.2 mg pen, potentially available later this year.

 

The higher dose provides a clear pathway for adults who need additional weight loss after starting on the 2.4 mg dose, while helping preserve muscle function.