A Research Study to See How Semaglutide Helps People With Excess Weight, Lose Weight (STEP UP)
NCT05646706 · Completed
Last updated 2026-05-28This study is testing whether the medication semaglutide at a 7.2 mg dose helps adults with obesity lose weight compared to a placebo.
What this study is testing ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05646706 ↗
Description as written by the study sponsor.
This study will look at how much weight participants will lose from the start to the end of the study. The weight loss in participants taking the investigational high dose of semaglutide will be compared to the weight loss in people taking "dummy" medicine and a lower dose of semaglutide. In addition to taking the medicine, participants will have talks with study staff about healthy food choices and how to be more physically active. Participants will either get semaglutide or "dummy" medicine. Which treatment participants get is decided by chance. Participants are more likely (4 out of 5) to get semaglutide than the "dummy" medicine. The study medicine will be injected briefly, under skin, with a thin needle, typically in the stomach, thighs, or upper arms. In the first part of the study, participants will get one injection once a week until they reach the planned dose. The second part of the study, which might last a couple of months, is a transition period, where participant will get three injections, taken right after each other, once a week. The duration of the study intervention (trial product and lifestyle intervention) will be 72 weeks followed by a 9-week follow-up period without study interventions.
Treatments tested
- Semaglutide Drug
Participants will receive once-weekly s.c. injections of semaglutide in escalating doses (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg and 7.2 mg) every fourth week. Treatment was continued on the maintenance dose of 7.2 mg once-weekly for an additional 52 weeks. Injections may be administered in the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm, at any time of day irrespective of meals.
- Semaglutide Drug
Participants will receive once-weekly s.c. injections of semaglutide in escalating doses (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg) every fourth week. Treatment was continued on the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once-weekly for an additional 52 weeks. Injections may be administered in the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm, at any time of day irrespective of meals.
- Placebo Drug
Participants will receive once-weekly s.c. injection of placebo matched to semaglutide for 72 weeks. Injections may be administered in the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm, at any time of day irrespective of meals.
| Main thing measured | Semaglutide 7.2 mg Versus Placebo: Relative Change in Body Weight |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Novo Nordisk A/S |
| Conditions studied | Obesity |
| GLP-1 drugs | semaglutide |
Full protocol, eligibility, and contacts on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05646706 ↗