New research suggests that Novo Nordisk’s (NYSE:NVO) weight-loss medication Wegovy can help patients reduce persistent thoughts about eating, potentially widening the drug’s use beyond just weight management.
Novo Nordisk’s U.S.-listed shares jumped 2.6% in premarket trading Tuesday as of 06:32 ET.
Presented at a medical conference in Austria, the findings showed that patients taking Wegovy experienced a marked reduction in so-called “food noise”—intrusive, constant thoughts about food—while also reporting improvements in mental health and daily habits.
The company said the proportion of participants experiencing nonstop thoughts about food dropped by 46% after beginning treatment.
Additionally, 64% of participants noted improved mental well-being, and 80% reported adopting healthier behaviors while using the drug.
“It is very encouraging to see these new data from people using Wegovy that, in addition to weight-loss, Wegovy may help quiet disruptive thoughts about food, support improved mental well-being and help enable people to live healthier lives,” said Filip Knop, incoming chief medical officer at Novo Nordisk.
The results come from the U.S.-based Inform study, which surveyed 550 patients using Wegovy for weight reduction to assess its effects on mental health and eating-related habits.
Novo Nordisk’s most recent trials also indicated that higher doses of Wegovy produced greater weight loss. Semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy for weight management and Ozempic for diabetes, was tested at 7.2mg—triple the approved 2.4mg dose—in two late-stage studies.
In the larger study, patients lost an average of 19% of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared with 16% on the standard dose and 4% on placebo.
However, these results trailed Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, marketed as Zepbound and Mounjaro, which achieved nearly 21% weight loss at its highest dose. Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) recently increased U.K. prices for Mounjaro by as much as 170%.
Investors have been urging Novo Nordisk to bolster its obesity pipeline as Lilly pushes more drug candidates. While the latest semaglutide data show potential incremental benefits, Novo has been losing U.S. market share to both Lilly and compounded versions of its medications.
The company’s stock has fallen nearly 60% over the past year, and it replaced its CEO in May. Last week, Novo Nordisk announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs.
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