Introduction: OASIS 4 (NCT05564117) evaluated once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg (half the OASIS 1 [NCT05035095] dose) vs placebo in adults with overweight/obesity.
Methods: Participants (≥18 years; BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2 with ≥1 weight-related comorbidity) were randomised 2:1 to oral semaglutide escalated to 25 mg or placebo for 64 weeks, with lifestyle intervention. Co-primary endpoints were percent weight change and achievement of ≥5% weight loss (WL). Confirmatory secondary endpoints were ≥10% WL, ≥15% WL, ≥20% WL, and change in IWQOL-Lite-CT Physical Function score. Efficacy was analysed using the treatment policy estimand with in-trial data unless stated otherwise.
Results: Participants (semaglutide n=205; placebo n=102) were mostly female (78.8%), with a mean age of 48 years, and mean bodyweight of 105.9 kg. Mean weight change was
–13.6% with semaglutide vs –2.2% with placebo (p<0.0001), and –16.6% vs –2.7% (p<0.0001) using on-treatment data. More participants achieved ≥5% WL (79.2% vs 31.1%), ≥10% WL (63.0% vs 14.4%), ≥15% WL (50.0% vs 5.6%), and ≥20% WL (29.7% vs 3.3%) with semaglutide vs placebo (all p<0.0001). Greater improvements in IWQOL-Lite-CT Physical Function score occurred with semaglutide vs placebo (estimated treatment difference 7.7 points, 95% confidence intervals 3.3 to 12.2; p=0.0006). Significant improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors (glycated haemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, C-reactive protein, triglycerides) were observed with semaglutide vs placebo. Incidence of all adverse events (AEs) was 93.1% for semaglutide and 85.3% for placebo. AEs leading to permanent treatment discontinuation (semaglutide 6.9% vs placebo 5.9%; mostly gastrointestinal AEs) were comparable between groups. Serious AEs were lower for semaglutide (3.9%) vs placebo (8.8%).
Conclusion: Once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg significantly reduced bodyweight, increased physical function, and improved metabolic health in adults with overweight/obesity, with comparable efficacy to semaglutide 50 mg in the OASIS 1 trial. Safety and tolerability were consistent with the well-established profile of semaglutide.