Novo Nordisk presented ECO 2026 analyses showing investigational semaglutide 7.2 mg delivered consistent weight loss across menopausal stages, while SELECT subgroup findings suggested reduced cardiovascular risk in women with obesity and established cardiovascular disease.
Written By: Fariha Sameen, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Novo Nordisk presented new analyses at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye, showing that Wegovy® (semaglutide) delivered substantial and consistent weight loss in women with obesity across menopausal stages, including premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause. The findings were derived from post-hoc analyses of the Phase 3 STEP UP and SELECT trials, alongside a large real-world evidence study involving more than 34,000 women.
Obesity during menopause is associated with hormonal changes, abdominal fat accumulation, and increased cardiometabolic risk. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women worldwide, yet women continue to be underrepresented in cardiovascular research.
In the 72-week STEP UP trial (NCT05646706), once-weekly investigational semaglutide 7.2 mg produced average body weight reductions of 22.6% in premenopausal women, 19.7% in perimenopausal women, and 19.8% in postmenopausal women. More than 41% of premenopausal participants achieved at least 25% weight loss. Waist circumference reductions ranged from 15.3% to 17.5% across groups, indicating reductions in visceral fat. By week 72, nearly half of women in each subgroup had transitioned from obesity to overweight or normal BMI categories.
The randomized, double-blind STEP UP study enrolled 1,407 adults with obesity but without diabetes and evaluated semaglutide 7.2 mg against semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention. Key secondary endpoints included the proportion of participants achieving 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% weight loss.
Novo Nordisk also completed the STEP UP T2D trial (NCT05649137) in 512 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes. The safety profile of semaglutide 7.2 mg was generally consistent with prior GLP-1 receptor agonist studies.
In a post-hoc analysis of the SELECT cardiovascular outcomes trial (NCT03574597), semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in women with obesity and established cardiovascular disease across menopausal stages. Exploratory subgroup findings showed a numerically greater relative risk reduction in perimenopausal women, with a 42% lower risk versus placebo, compared with a 13% lower risk in postmenopausal women, although the difference between groups was not statistically significant.
Mette Thomsen of Novo Nordisk stated that the ECO 2026 findings highlight semaglutide’s potential to address obesity-related cardiovascular and metabolic complications during menopause while improving quality-of-life burdens. Dr. Emilia Huvinen of the University of Helsinki added that the data reinforce semaglutide’s benefits across menopausal stages, including both cardiovascular outcomes and weight management.
In a 1-year US observational study involving more than 34,000 menopausal women receiving menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), Wegovy® alone or in combination with MHT was associated with lower risks of migraine and depression. Women receiving Wegovy® showed a 42% to 45% lower migraine risk and a 25% lower depression risk after six months compared with MHT alone.
Alongside the menopause-focused analyses, Novo Nordisk also presented new STEP UP trial data at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2026 highlighting the weight-loss efficacy of higher-dose Wegovy® (semaglutide 7.2 mg).
Reference
About the Writer
Fariha Sameen, PharmD (LinkedIn), is a clinical pharmacy professional with hands-on experience in patient counselling, medication review, therapeutic monitoring, and clinical documentation across multiple departments. She has experience identifying and assessing drug-related problems and supporting medication safety practices. Her interests include pharmacovigilance, ADR reporting, clinical research, and medical writing focused on clear, evidence-based communication.