Novo Nordisk says CagriSema beats tirzepatide in study

Novo Nordisk announced new Phase 3 trial results on September 21 for its experimental obesity and diabetes drug CagriSema. In the 60-week REIMAGINE 5 trial of adults with type 2 diabetes, patients receiving the combination drug lost an average of 12.4% of their body weight, compared to 9.1% among those treated with a 5 mg dose of Eli Lilly's tirzepatide.

The study also tracked blood sugar management. CagriSema reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by 1.71 percentage points, compared to 1.67 percentage points for tirzepatide, meeting the trial goal of showing the drug was non-inferior to its competitor. CagriSema combines cagrilintide with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy.

The trial compared CagriSema only against a 5 mg dose of tirzepatide, even though Eli Lilly sells the drug in higher strengths under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound. In a previous study released in February, patients on a 15 mg dose of tirzepatide lost an average of 25.5% of their body weight over 84 weeks, while those on CagriSema lost 23%.

Novo Nordisk also released results from another Phase 3 trial, REDEFINE 9, conducted in adults with obesity or overweight. Patients who received CagriSema 1 mg/1 mg achieved an estimated average weight loss of 21% after 68 weeks, compared to roughly 2% in the placebo group.

CagriSema remains experimental and requires regulatory clearance before it can reach the market. Novo Nordisk has already submitted an approval application in the United States and expects a decision from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the fourth quarter of 2026.