Novo Nordisk: Semaglutide Cuts Obesity in 40% of Kids Under 12
The Facts
- The Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced on Monday that 40.4% of obese children aged 6 to under 12 treated with semaglutide in its late-stage STEP Young trial no longer had the condition after 68 weeks, assuming full adherence to treatment.
- The company said the trial met its primary endpoint, with those taking subcutaneous semaglutide once weekly, showing greater BMI reduction at week 68 than those on the placebo, none of whom dropped below the obesity threshold.
- In total, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 165 children with obesity, more than 85% of whom were class II or III, who received a maximum dose of either 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg of semaglutide depending on their weight at the start of the study.
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The Spin
Narrative A
This trial shows promising results for semaglutide's effectiveness in children, most of whom had severe cases of obesity, and exercise and diet alone were never going to be enough. Since no safety red flags were raised, the medicine can now be considered viable for improved health outcomes in minors.
Narrative B
Handing appetite-suppressing drugs to children because society lacks the spine to regulate junk food is a moral failure, not a medical breakthrough. During their early years, children are still growing physically, cognitively and emotionally, and rapid weight loss carries real risks that long-term data has not answered. Jumping to prescribing these drugs could be disastrous.
Metaculus Prediction
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