Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company, announced that the Phase 3 STEP Young trial compared weekly injections of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, with a placebo, and none of the children in that group moved out of the obesity category during the study period.

In addition to the medication or placebo, all participants were given lifestyle support, including a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

According to Novo Nordisk, the study met its primary objective by showing a greater reduction in body mass index (BMI) among children receiving weekly semaglutide compared with those given a placebo.

The company said the results mean that around two in five children treated with semaglutide reduced their BMI enough to be classified as either normal weight or overweight rather than obese.

Positive results

As reported by Novo Nordisk, the overall safety and tolerability of semaglutide were consistent with what had previously been observed in clinical trials involving adults and adolescents.

“We are encouraged by the positive results of the STEP Young study and the potential of semaglutide to help children with obesity who need medical treatment, alongside lifestyle changes”, Martin Holst Lange, Executive Vice President of the Development of Novo Nordisk, said.

However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have not yet approved GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide for weight management in this group.

Novo Nordisk emphasised the health risks associated with childhood obesity, noting that affected children face increased risks of cardiovascular disease, depression, eating disorders and bullying.

Furthermore, the company also warned that obesity in childhood can persist into adulthood, with related health complications potentially appearing earlier and becoming more severe.

The World Health Organisation estimates that around one in four children in Europe is living with obesity, underlining the scale of the issue and the growing interest in potential medical treatments for childhood weight management.