Investing.com-- Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) Zepbound demonstrated significantly greater weight loss than Novo Nordisk ’s (CSE:NOVOb) Wegovy in a head-to-head clinical trial, the company said on Sunday.
Shares in Novo Nordisk fell 5.7% in early Copenhagen trade. On the other hand, Eli Lilly stock was down 2.9% on news President Donald Trump plans to order a cut in U.S. prescription drug costs.
In the 72-week SURMOUNT-5 trial, adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related medical condition, but without diabetes, achieved an average weight reduction of 20.2% on Zepbound compared to 13.7% on Wegovy — a 47% greater relative weight loss.
Zepbound also outperformed Wegovy across key secondary endpoints, with 64.6% of participants losing at least 15% of their body weight, versus 40.1% in the Wegovy group.
Waist circumference reduction was also greater with Zepbound, the company said in a statement.
Both drugs were administered at their maximum approved doses. The safety profile of Zepbound was consistent with prior studies and primarily involved gastrointestinal side effects.
The results were also presented at the European Congress on Obesity.