Novo begins study to find lowest effective dose for Wegovy pill

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk is testing smaller doses of its Wegovy pill in a new late-stage study to find the lowest dose that would still help patients lose weight, according to a U.S. clinical trials database.

The OASIS-5 study, which began on August 12 and runs until 2028, will test lower strengths of the daily maintenance dose used to keep weight off. Currently, the approved long-term dose of the Wegovy pill is 25 milligrams.

Novo said in an emailed statement to Reuters: "Having a broader range of maintenance doses could provide greater flexibility in treatment and optimising the patient experience."

The 60-week trial will recruit 450 adult participants who have previously struggled to lose weight, with a Body Mass Index of 30 or above, or 27 with a weight-related health issue. The main goal is to test whether lower doses of oral semaglutide — the active ingredient in Wegovy — help people lose more weight than a placebo over 60 weeks. The trial will also track changes in waist size and other health benefits, as well as side effects, as secondary goals.