Novo Nordisk has launched a 7.2 mg semaglutide injection in the US, the highest dosage for the company's injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists. The FDA approved the new dosage on March 19, providing an additional option for adult patients seeking greater weight loss.
Ed Cinca, senior vice president of Marketing & Patient Solutions at Novo Nordisk, stated, "We know that patients are looking for additional options for weight loss, and with 7.2 mg semaglutide we are answering that call." The self-paying cost for the 7.2 mg semaglutide is $399 per month, with commercially insured patients potentially paying $25 per month.
Previously, the highest available dose of the injectable weight loss drug was 2.4 mg. FDA Commissioner Martin Makary commented, "The new FDA is moving with unprecedented efficiency on products that advance national priorities. Thursday’s approval is another demonstration of what the FDA can accomplish when we try bold new things."
This approval follows favorable results from the phase 3 STEP UP clinical trial. The 7.2 mg dose demonstrated an average weight loss of approximately 21% at 72 weeks in adults with obesity. The safety profile remained consistent with known side effects of semaglutide, though altered skin sensation was reported more frequently at the higher dose. The FDA is reportedly investigating this reaction further.