Novo Nordisk Says Next-Gen Obesity Drug Reduces Food Noise, Drives Weight Loss

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) on Wednesday revealed new clinical and real-world data at the 2026 European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting, showcasing the efficacy of its next-generation weight-loss treatments.

The presentations highlighted how the investigational drug CagriSema alters brain responses to food, alongside positive real-world outcomes for patients transitioning to oral semaglutide

CagriSema Curbs ‘Food Noise’ and Cravings

A 52-week functional magnetic resonance imaging study demonstrated that CagriSema changes how the brain reacts to high-calorie food cues.

The treatment targeted brain regions associated with cravings, reward, behavioral control and sensory processing in overweight and obese adults.

Participants experienced a significant decrease in “food noise,” hunger and appetite. These eating behavior improvements correlated with a 22.4% reduction in body weight compared to a placebo over 52 weeks.

The EASD recognized this research with a Best Abstract Award, emphasizing the drug’s ability to address biological drivers that complicate sustained weight management.

Metabolic Benefits and Clinical Trial Progress

Additional MRI data from the phase 3a REIMAGINE 1 trial showed that early type 2 diabetes patients taking CagriSema experienced notable fat reductions around the liver, pancreas, and abdomen, coupled with a 14.3% weight loss at 40 weeks.

Furthermore, a REIMAGINE 2 post-hoc analysis indicated healthy bone maintenance alongside a 14.2% weight reduction at 68 weeks.

The pharmaceutical company submitted a New Drug Application for CagriSema to the US FDA and Health Canada in December 2025.

In 2026, the firm launched a phase 3 safety and efficacy trial evaluating a high-dose CagriSema formulation in obese adults.

Real-World Data On Oral Semaglutide

The company also shared OCTANE study findings, marking the first real-world data from its collaboration with the telehealth platform Ro.

This research analyzed overweight and obese patients who switched from injectable GLP-1 medications to the once-daily Wegovy pill.

After three months on the oral treatment, users lost an average of 4.1% of their body weight, starting from a 221.6-pound average.

Consequently, the proportion of patients classified as living with obesity dropped from 87.1% to 65.5% in just three months.

NVO Price Action: Novo Nordisk shares were up 0.12% to $38.37 at the time of publication on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Image via Shutterstock