Semaglutide Results: What Studies Measured and When
What published studies measured for Semaglutide, when those outcomes were measured, and what is still unproven.
What studies measured
Each outcome below comes from a published study, with its type and size, strongest design first. Animal and cell results are labelled as such and are not human results.
| Outcome | Result | Study type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes | Oral semaglutide did not slow clinical progression in early Alzheimer disease; both trials were discontinued for negative outcome. | Human RCTn = 3808 | Lancet 2026, PMID 41865758 |
| CDR-SB change from baseline | CDR-SB score worsened by 2·3 and 2·2 with semaglutide vs 2·3 and 2·1 with placebo in the two trials. | Human RCTn = 3808 | Lancet 2026, PMID 41865758 |
| Steatohepatitis resolution | Steatohepatitis resolved without worsening fibrosis in 62.9% on semaglutide vs 34.3% on placebo. | Human RCTn = 1197 | The New England journal of medicine 2025, PMID 40305708 |
| Fibrosis reduction | Liver fibrosis was reduced without worsening steatohepatitis in 36.8% on semaglutide vs 22.4% on placebo. | Human RCTn = 1197 | The New England journal of medicine 2025, PMID 40305708 |
| Body weight change (oral) | Oral semaglutide changed body weight by -13.6% vs -2.2% with placebo at week 64. | Human RCTn = 307 | The New England journal of medicine 2025, PMID 40934115 |
| Body weight change at 7·2 mg | Bodyweight changed by -18·7% with 7·2 mg vs -15·6% with 2·4 mg and -3·9% with placebo. | Human RCTn = 1407 | The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology 2025, PMID 40961952 |
| Albuminuria | After 24 weeks, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio was reduced by 52.1% with semaglutide vs placebo. | Human RCTn = 101 | Nature medicine 2025, PMID 39455729 |
| Carotid plaque inflammation | No significant difference between semaglutide and placebo in carotid plaque inflammation at week 26. | Human RCTn = 101 | American heart journal 2025, PMID 40345413 |
| Major kidney disease events | The risk of the primary kidney composite was 24% lower with semaglutide (331 vs 410 first events; hazard ratio 0.76). | Human RCTn = 3533 | The New England journal of medicine 2024, PMID 38785209 |
| Major cardiovascular events | The risk of major cardiovascular events was 18% lower (hazard ratio 0.82). | Human RCTn = 3533 | The New England journal of medicine 2024, PMID 38785209 |
| Knee osteoarthritis pain (WOMAC) | Pain score changed by -41.7 points with semaglutide vs -27.5 with placebo at week 68. | Human RCTn = 407 | The New England journal of medicine 2024, PMID 39476339 |
| Body weight | Body weight changed by -13.7% with semaglutide vs -3.2% with placebo. | Human RCTn = 407 | The New England journal of medicine 2024, PMID 39476339 |
| Cardiovascular death, MI or stroke | The primary cardiovascular composite occurred in 6.5% on semaglutide vs 8.0% on placebo (hazard ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.90). | Human RCTn = 17604 | The New England journal of medicine 2023, PMID 37952131 |
| Symptoms and body weight | The symptom score improved by 16.6 points with semaglutide vs 8.7 with placebo, and body weight changed by -13.3% vs -2.6%. | Human RCTn = 529 | The New England journal of medicine 2023, PMID 37622681 |
| C-reactive protein | C-reactive protein changed by -43.5% with semaglutide vs -7.3% with placebo. | Human RCTn = 529 | The New England journal of medicine 2023, PMID 37622681 |
| Weight change vs liraglutide | Weight changed by -15.8% with semaglutide vs -6.4% with liraglutide and -1.9% with placebo. | Human controlled trialn = 338 | JAMA 2022, PMID 35015037 |
| Body weight change | Mean body weight changed by -14.9% with semaglutide vs -2.4% with placebo at week 68 (difference -12.4 percentage points). | Human RCTn = 1961 | The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33567185 |
| Weight reduction thresholds | At week 68, 86.4%, 69.1% and 50.5% on semaglutide lost at least 5%, 10% and 15% of body weight, vs 31.5%, 12.0% and 4.9% on placebo. | Human RCTn = 1961 | The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33567185 |
| Weight maintenance | From week 20 to week 68, body weight changed by -7.9% with continued semaglutide vs +6.9% after switching to placebo. | Human RCTn = 803 | JAMA 2021, PMID 33755728 |
| Waist circumference and systolic blood pressure | Continued semaglutide improved waist circumference (-9.7 cm) and systolic blood pressure (-3.9 mm Hg) versus placebo. | Human RCTn = 803 | JAMA 2021, PMID 33755728 |
| Body weight change | Mean bodyweight changed by -9·6% with semaglutide 2·4 mg vs -3·4% with placebo at week 68 in people with diabetes. | Human RCTn = 1210 | Lancet 2021, PMID 33667417 |
| Body weight change with behavioral therapy | With intensive behavioral therapy, body weight changed by -16.0% with semaglutide vs -5.7% with placebo at week 68. | Human RCTn = 611 | JAMA 2021, PMID 33625476 |
| NASH resolution | NASH resolved without worsening fibrosis in 59% at 0.4 mg vs 17% on placebo. | Human RCTn = 320 | The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33185364 |
| Fibrosis stage improvement | Fibrosis improved in 43% at 0.4 mg vs 33% on placebo, not a significant difference (P = 0.48). | Human RCTn = 320 | The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33185364 |
| Major adverse cardiovascular events | Major events occurred in 3.8% on oral semaglutide vs 4.8% on placebo (hazard ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.11), establishing noninferiority. | Human RCTn = 3183 | The New England journal of medicine 2019, PMID 31185157 |
| Glycaemic control vs dulaglutide | Glycated hemoglobin fell by 1·5 points (semaglutide 0·5 mg) vs 1·1 (dulaglutide 0·75 mg), and by 1·8 (semaglutide 1·0 mg) vs 1·4 (dulaglutide 1·5 mg). | Human controlled trialn = 1201 | The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology 2018, PMID 29397376 |
| Body weight vs dulaglutide | Bodyweight fell by 4·6 kg with semaglutide 0·5 mg vs 2·3 kg with dulaglutide 0·75 mg. | Human controlled trialn = 1201 | The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology 2018, PMID 29397376 |
| Cardiovascular death, MI or stroke | The primary composite occurred in 6.6% on semaglutide vs 8.9% on placebo (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.95). | Human RCTn = 3297 | The New England journal of medicine 2016, PMID 27633186 |
| Cognitive deficit and dementia | Semaglutide was associated with lower risk of cognitive deficit (hazard ratio 0.72 vs sitagliptin and glipizide) and dementia (0.52 vs sitagliptin); observational association only. | Human observational | EClinicalMedicine 2024, PMID 39764175 |
| Neuropsychiatric safety | Semaglutide was not associated with higher 12-month risk of adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes versus other antidiabetic drugs. | Human observational | EClinicalMedicine 2024, PMID 39764175 |
Showing the first 30 of 38 rows, strongest sources first.
- The evoke and evoke+ phase 3 trials of oral semaglutide in early Alzheimer disease were negative (published 2026); the cohort studies suggesting protection are observational.
- Depression and anxiety: the two cohort studies disagree (one finds no increased neuropsychiatric risk, one finds higher risk); neither is a randomized trial.
- No randomized trial was found for semaglutide in rheumatoid arthritis, ADHD, or depression in PubMed as of 2 October 2026.
Typical timeline
When the studies above measured their outcomes. This is the study schedule, not a promise of when anyone will notice a change.
| When | What was measured | Study type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 68 | Primary weight outcome | Human RCTn = 1961 | The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33567185 |
Before-and-after photos
We don't publish before-and-after photos. They can't be verified, rarely show dose, diet or other drugs, and only the most dramatic results get posted.
Common questions
How long does Semaglutide take to work?
The studies we summarise measured outcomes at set points, for example Primary weight outcome at Week 68. Timelines outside studies vary.
Do you show Semaglutide before and after photos?
No. Photos can't be verified, rarely show dose, diet or other drugs, and only the most dramatic ones get posted. We summarize measured outcomes instead.
More on Semaglutide
DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.CalculatorVial, water and dose to syringe units.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.
Sources
- 1Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide 14 mg (flexible dose) in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (evoke and evoke+): two phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trials.Lancet (London, England) · 2026PMID 41865758Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 2Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40305708Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 3Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40934115Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 4Once-weekly semaglutide 7·2 mg in adults with obesity (STEP UP): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2025PMID 40961952Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 5Semaglutide in patients with overweight or obesity and chronic kidney disease without diabetes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Nature medicine · 2025PMID 39455729Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 6Effect of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide on arterial inflammation in people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease using PET-MRI: Primary results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.American heart journal · 2025PMID 40345413Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 7Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2024PMID 38785209Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 8Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Persons with Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis.The New England journal of medicine · 2024PMID 39476339Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 9Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2023PMID 37952131Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 10Semaglutide in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2023PMID 37622681Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 11Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA · 2022PMID 35015037Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 12Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2021PMID 33567185Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 13Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 4 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA · 2021PMID 33755728Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 14Semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.Lancet (London, England) · 2021PMID 33667417Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 15Effect of Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo as an Adjunct to Intensive Behavioral Therapy on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA · 2021PMID 33625476Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 16A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Subcutaneous Semaglutide in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.The New England journal of medicine · 2021PMID 33185364Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 17Oral Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2019PMID 31185157Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 18Semaglutide versus dulaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 7): a randomised, open-label, phase 3b trial.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2018PMID 29397376Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 19Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2016PMID 27633186Accessed 2 Oct 2026
- 2012-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes of semaglutide use for type 2 diabetes: a propensity-score matched cohort study.EClinicalMedicine · 2024PMID 39764175Accessed 2 Oct 2026
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