Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide 2·4 mg in Chinese adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 12): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 3b trial.

Guo L, Bao X, Huang KC, Kolnes KJ, Laugesen C, Lu Y, Luo B, Yuan G, Kushner RF

The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology10 Aug 2026Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID42575111DOI10.1016/s2213-8587(26)00133-6PepBankPUB-42575111

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, semaglutide 2.4 mg reduced bodyweight by 12.1% versus 2.2% with placebo over 44 weeks.
In plain wordsIn Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, semaglutide 2.4 mg led to more weight loss than placebo over 44 weeks.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
DecreasePercentage change in bodyweight at week 44
Study
n = 242
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 44 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Bodyweight change
−12.1%
semaglutide 2.4 mg
Bodyweight change
−2.2%
placebo
Estimated treatment difference
−9.9 percentage points
semaglutide vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Bodyweight reduction was greater with semaglutide versus placebo (-12·1% [SE 0·6] vs -2·2% [0·8]; estimated treatment difference -9·9 percentage points [95% CI -11·8 to -8·0]; p<0·0001
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Adults with a BMI of 24-2 and at least one weight-related comorbidity, or a BMI of 28-2, with or without type 2 diabetes, were randomly assigned (2:1) to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2·4 mg or placebo, plus lifestyle intervention, for 44 weeks.
Report a problemFND-4257511101
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, more participants reached at least 5% bodyweight reduction with semaglutide 2.4 mg than with placebo (80.5% vs 24.4%).
In plain wordsIn Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, more people lost at least 5% of body weight with semaglutide than with placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseAt least 5% bodyweight reduction at week 44
Study
n = 242
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Primary
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 44 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Proportion with at least 5% bodyweight reduction
80.5%
semaglutide 2.4 mg
Proportion with at least 5% bodyweight reduction
24.4%
placebo
Odds ratio
14.8
semaglutide vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
with a greater proportion of participants achieving at least 5% bodyweight reduction (80·5% vs 24·4%; odds ratio [OR] 14·8 [95% CI 7·4 to 29·6]; p<0·0001).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Adults with a BMI of 24-2 and at least one weight-related comorbidity, or a BMI of 28-2, with or without type 2 diabetes, were randomly assigned (2:1) to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2·4 mg or placebo, plus lifestyle intervention, for 44 weeks.
Report a problemFND-4257511102
03HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, adverse events were reported in 87.6% with semaglutide 2.4 mg and 75.3% with placebo.
In plain wordsIn Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, side effects were reported by 87.6% on semaglutide and 75.3% on placebo.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseAdverse events
Study
n = 242
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 44 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Participants with adverse events
87.6%
semaglutide 2.4 mg
Participants with adverse events
75.3%
placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Adverse events were reported in 141 (87·6%) of 161 participants in the semaglutide 2·4 mg group and 61 (75·3%) of 81 participants in the placebo group
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Adults with a BMI of 24-2 and at least one weight-related comorbidity, or a BMI of 28-2, with or without type 2 diabetes, were randomly assigned (2:1) to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2·4 mg or placebo, plus lifestyle intervention, for 44 weeks.
Report a problemFND-4257511103
04HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome
In Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, gastrointestinal disorders were the most common adverse events with semaglutide 2.4 mg.
In plain wordsIn Chinese adults with overweight or obesity, stomach and gut problems were the most common side effects of semaglutide.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
Not applicableGastrointestinal disorders
Study
n = 242
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Studied dose
2.4 mg once weekly · subcutaneous · 44 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
with gastrointestinal disorders being the most common.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Adults with a BMI of 24-2 and at least one weight-related comorbidity, or a BMI of 28-2, with or without type 2 diabetes, were randomly assigned (2:1) to once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2·4 mg or placebo, plus lifestyle intervention, for 44 weeks.
Report a problemFND-4257511104

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 completed · 1 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedPhase 3Results postedNCT06041217

A Research Study to See How Well Semaglutide Helps People Who Have a Body Weight Above the Healthy Weight Range

Novo Nordisk A/Sn = 24215 Sept 2023 to 7 May 2025

Overweight · Obesity

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 18 May 2026

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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