Semaglutide 2.4 Mg for the Management of Overweight and Obesity: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE: Semaglutide has demonstrated safe and effective weight loss for overweight and obesity, including participants with concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs). We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) and network meta-analyses (NMA) to compare weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg with pharmacological comparators for weight management in overweight or obesity. METHODS: The SLR was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist. NMAs were performed to compare weight change for semaglutide 2.4 mg with comparators using data identified in the SLR. The populations of interest were total population, normal glucose tolerance, non-T2DM, pre-diabetes, and T2DM. Included outcomes were weight change from baseline (CFB, %) at 52 weeks and proportion of participants losing ≥5% baseline fasting body weight at 12 weeks (at full therapeutic dose). RESULTS: The SLR identified 108 RCTs examining non-surgical interventions, of which 41 were considered for inclusion in the NMAs. In all populations, semaglutide 2.4 mg was associated with a greater percentage weight CFB with 52 weeks of treatment versus all available comparators. In all populations, semaglutide was associated with a higher likelihood of participants losing ≥5% of baseline fasting body weight at 12 weeks versus all available comparators. CONCLUSION: In NMA, semaglutide 2.4 mg demonstrated effective weight loss (≥5%) in the total population and all subpopulations of glucose tolerance versus active comparators. Semaglutide is an effective treatment that may address unmet need in the management of overweight and obesity.