Novo Nordisk A/S: People switching from weight-loss injections to Novo's Wegovy® pill lost 4.1% body weight on average after three months, according to real-world data presented at EASD2026
- Co announced new real-world data from the OCTANE study, an analysis of de-identified data from the Ro telehealth platform. In the study, adults with overweight or obesity who switched from an injectable GLP-1 based medicine for weight management - either tirzepatide or semaglutide - to once-daily oral semaglutide (Wegovy® pill) and stayed on treatment for 3 months lost an average of 4.1% or 8.8 lbs based on an average starting weight of 221.6 lbs (p <0.001).¹ OCTANE was presented during a short oral session at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy, on September 30, 2026.
- This analysis represents the first in a previously announced collaboration between Ro and Novo to look at real-world outcomes of weight-loss medication users. It is among the first real-world evidence describing weight loss and other patient experience outcomes in people who switched from injectable weight loss therapy to oral semaglutide. The proportion of patients classified as living with obesity (BMI =30 kg/m²) fell from 87.1% at baseline to 65.5% at three months.
- "We innovate to meet people with obesity where they are. Some people may choose to switch from injectable to pill — whether that is because of needle anxiety, lifestyle, or simply personal preference," said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president, head of Research & Development, and chief scientific officer at Novo. "The OCTANE data give us a unique and encouraging early look at what happened in a real-world analysis where patients switched from injectable therapies. After switching, patients experienced significant weight loss and reported treatment satisfaction and lifestyle improvements. That combination of results is promising for future research."
- Real-world evidence gathered from actual patient experiences can complement randomized control trials, which are the gold standard for evaluating the safety and efficacy of a treatment.2 Real-world studies evaluate associations and cannot determine causality.3 Limitations of the OCTANE study include: variable timing and completeness of data being collected during routine telehealth care; self-reported data being subject to bias; requiring treatment persistence could result in selection bias; and results not being generalizable to the broader population.1