Novo Nordisk: semaglutide (Wegovy) post‑hoc data across cardiometabolic conditions

Scope of analyses

Novo Nordisk presented post hoc analyses from the SELECT, STEP, ESSENCE and OASIS clinical programs at the American Diabetes Association 2026 Scientific Sessions, exploring semaglutide effects across obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), asthma‑related outcomes, cardiometabolic risk factors, liver health and other obesity‑related complications.

Key findings

In SELECT (17,604 enrolled; 2,550 reported OSA at baseline) semaglutide 2.4 mg was associated with a lower incidence of incident OSA (HR 0.48; 95% CI 0.31–0.74) and reduced MACE risk irrespective of OSA status. Among 1,190 SELECT patients with self‑reported asthma, semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced asthma‑related AEs/SAEs (HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.36–0.93) and produced a 38.9% reduction in hsCRP at week 104. A pooled post hoc analysis of STEP and OASIS trials in 597 adults with uncontrolled hypertension found semaglutide 2.4 mg lowered systolic BP (ETD –5.48 mmHg; 95% CI –7.78, –3.19) by week 68. ESSENCE part 1 (first 800 randomized) and STEP analyses showed consistent improvements in liver parameters and cardiometabolic risk markers up to week 72/68, and OASIS4 (n=307) reported cardiometabolic benefits with oral semaglutide 25 mg across BMI classes through week 64.

Safety and interpretation

These analyses are exploratory and hypothesis‑generating; further work is needed to confirm clinical validity. Semaglutide injection 2.4 mg and oral semaglutide 25 mg are not approved to treat OSA, asthma, hypertension or MASLD. Both formulations carry a boxed warning for possible thyroid tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma, and common adverse events reported include gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, dizziness and hair loss.