A study confirming the efficacy of the obesity treatment drug "Wegovy" (active ingredient semaglutide) targeted exclusively at East Asians, including Koreans, has been published.
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital stated on the 2nd that a joint research team from Korea and Thailand, led by Professor Lim Su of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, confirmed the weight loss effect by administering semaglutide to obese adults without diabetes. The results of this study were published in the international journal "The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology."
"Wegovy" is a drug that mimics the hormone glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, which induces a feeling of fullness and promotes weight loss. It works by slowing the rate at which food leaves the stomach and suppressing appetite, leading to weight loss.
The research team conducted a late-stage Phase 3 (3b) trial at 12 medical institutions in Korea and Thailand. After administering 2.4 mg of semaglutide once a week, the team analyzed that, over 44 weeks, participants experienced an average weight reduction of 16% and a reduction in waist circumference of 11.9 cm.
This study selected clinical trial subjects based on the obesity criterion of body mass index (BMI) 25 for East Asia. Previously conducted clinical trials were based on obesity criteria of BMI 27 or 30 or higher for Western populations, making them less applicable to clinical settings in Asia, including Korea.
The research team divided 150 obese patients without diabetes participating in the clinical trial into a semaglutide treatment group and a placebo group, allowing them to conduct obesity treatment and lifestyle adjustments over 44 weeks. The study was conducted in a double-blind, randomized controlled manner to compare changes in weight and waist circumference, as well as the incidence of side effects.
In the clinical trial results, the semaglutide treatment group showed a significant weight reduction of 16% at week 44, compared to a 3.1% reduction in the placebo group. The waist circumference decreased by 11.9 cm, showing a clear improvement in abdominal obesity. The percentage of participants who successfully lost over 15% of their weight was 4.2% in the placebo group and 53% in the treatment group, indicating that the treatment group was 12 times more successful.
In terms of safety evaluation, 89.1% of the semaglutide treatment group exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. The placebo group showed an incidence of adverse reactions at 77.6%, with no significant differences observed between the two groups.
The research team explained that most adverse reactions were within the expected range for gastrointestinal symptoms and did not exceed the scope reported for existing GLP-1 class drugs.
Professor Lim stated, "This study is the first randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on subjects with a BMI of 25 or higher, which is the obesity criterion for East Asia. Unlike Westerners, who frequently suffer from severe obesity, this confirms that a semaglutide 2.4 mg once-weekly regimen is an effective and safe treatment option for Koreans and other East Asians, who tend to have obese patients with relatively lower BMIs."
References
Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(25)00164-0