Nearly half of adults who started semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) for obesity management discontinued treatment within 12 months, a nationwide cohort study found.
Researchers analyzed 157,822 first-time semaglutide users without diabetes in Denmark between Dec. 1, 2022, and Nov. 1, 2024, according to the study, published Aug. 28 in JAMA Network Open. The 12-month risk of discontinuation was 49%.
Here are six things to know:
- Discontinuation increased from 13% at 3 months to 27% at 6 months and 39% at 9 months.
- The risk of discontinuation was at least 41% across all baseline characteristics studied.
- Adults ages 18-29 had a higher risk of discontinuation than those ages 45-59. Men also had a higher risk than women.
- People living in low-income municipalities had a slightly higher risk of stopping treatment than those in high-income municipalities.
- One in 4 patients who discontinued semaglutide restarted treatment within three months.
- Semaglutide costs approximately €2,200 to €3,700 ($2,500 to $4,200) per year in Denmark, depending on the dose, and is not currently reimbursed.
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