Novo Nordisk is facing investor pressure to provide more details about its potential next-generation obesity drug, CagriSema, following uncertainty surrounding trial results that led to a drop in its shares in December.
The company believes that CagriSema could outperform its popular weight-loss injection, Wegovy, but investors are concerned about its ability to surpass competitor Eli Lilly in the competitive obesity drug market.
Notably, some patients involved in the trial reported significant side effects such as nausea, constipation, and fatigue, despite experiencing rapid weight loss with the weekly injection. Novo attributes these issues to the drug's class of GLP-1 receptor agonists.
While Novo did not comment due to regulatory restrictions before its quarterly results, interviews with trial participants shed light on their experiences with CagriSema, hinting at potential answers regarding side effects and dosing.
The trial results fell short of Novo's expectations, casting doubts on its aspiration to rival Lilly's Zepbound. Combining semaglutide and cagrilintide, CagriSema had mixed results with some participants noting adverse reactions, including fainting.
Novo reported lower-than-anticipated weight-loss percentages post-trial, triggering a significant market value decline. Investor concerns include low patient adherence to the highest dose, potentially related to side effects or alternative dosing strategies.
Going forward, Novo plans to address these issues with a new trial, prompting calls from investors and analysts for clearer communication to be provided at the upcoming quarterly results.
Despite challenges, some participants like Jane and Michelle have experienced transformative weight loss on CagriSema. However, side effects like nausea and appetite struggles have prompted further evaluation of long-term sustainability and alternative maintenance options.
The ongoing Phase III trial testing CagriSema against Zepbound/Mounjaro involves participants like Leigh, who face debilitating post-injection symptoms but hope for continued weight loss benefits.
Overall, the future success of Novo's CagriSema hinges on addressing efficacy and tolerability concerns while balancing the competitive landscape of the obesity drug market.