Novo Nordisk has initiated OASIS‑5, a 60‑week, late‑stage randomized trial testing whether lower oral doses of Wegovy (semaglutide) can still drive weight loss versus placebo. The study will enroll 450 adults (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with an obesity‑related condition) and is planned to run through 2028. Secondary measures include waist circumference, clinical health markers and safety; the protocol excludes people with diabetes and current GLP‑1 therapy. The trial responds to growing market competition, notably from Eli Lilly.
Novo Nordisk Launches OASIS-5 Trial to Test Lower Doses of Oral Wegovy for Weight Loss
Novo Nordisk faces growing competition from Eli Lilly in the obesity drug market. Credit: PJ McDonnell / Shutterstock.com.
Novo Nordisk has launched OASIS‑5, a late-stage, 60‑week clinical trial designed to evaluate whether lower doses of its oral obesity pill Wegovy (semaglutide) can still produce clinically meaningful weight loss, Reuters reported.
The US clinical trials registry shows the study began earlier this month and is scheduled to run through 2028. The move comes amid intensifying competition in the obesity drug market—where analysts project sales could exceed $100 billion by 2030—most notably from Eli Lilly.
Study Design and Objectives
OASIS‑5 will enroll 450 adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of at least 27 when accompanied by an obesity‑related medical condition, who have previously tried and failed to lose weight. The randomized, double‑blind trial will compare two unspecified lower strengths of oral semaglutide against placebo over 60 weeks.
The primary objective is to determine whether reduced doses lead to greater weight loss than placebo. Secondary endpoints include changes in waist circumference, other clinical health markers, and the incidence and profile of adverse events.
Dosing Context and Exclusions
Currently, the approved long‑term maintenance dose for the oral form of Wegovy is 25 mg; the pill is also available in 1.5 mg, 4 mg and 9 mg strengths. Novo Nordisk has not disclosed which lower doses will be tested in this trial.
The study excludes people with diabetes, individuals who have experienced major recent weight changes, and participants currently using GLP‑1–based therapies.
Industry Context and Comments
CEO Mike Doustdar told Reuters that many patients already self‑administer lower doses: "People are using low dosages of these products... they just decide on their own," and he added that patients often seek benefits beyond weight loss. Eli Lilly did not respond when asked whether it plans to study lower dosing for its oral obesity medication.
Separately, in November 2025 the Phase III OASIS‑4 trial reported that Wegovy (semaglutide) reduced cardiovascular risk factors, a finding that has helped bolster interest in the drug class.
The original story was published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData–owned brand.
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