Semaglutideside effects

The following serious adverse reactions are described below or elsewhere in the prescribing information:

Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors

Acute Pancreatitis

Acute Gallbladder Disease

Hypoglycemia

Acute Kidney Injury

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Heart Rate Increase

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) in adults or pediatric patients aged 12 years and older are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distension, eructation, hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and nasopharyngitis. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Novo Nordisk Inc., at 1-833-934-6891 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

6.1 Clinical

Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Clinical Trials in Adults with Obesity or Overweight WEGOVY 2.4 mg Subcutaneous Weekly Dosage WEGOVY was evaluated for safety in 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that included 2,116 adult patients with obesity or overweight treated with 2.4 mg WEGOVY for up to 68 weeks and a 7 week off-drug follow-up period. Baseline characteristics included a mean age of 48 years, 71% female, 72% White, 14% Asian, 9% Black or African American, and 5% reported as other or unknown; and 85% were not Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 13% were Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and 2% reported as unknown. The baseline characteristics were 42% with hypertension, 19% with type 2 diabetes, 43% with dyslipidemia, 28% with a BMI greater than 40 kg/m 2, and 4% with cardiovascular disease. In these clinical trials, 6.8% of patients treated with 2.4 mg WEGOVY and 3.2% of patients treated with placebo permanently discontinued treatment as a result of adverse reactions. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation were nausea (1.8% versus 0.2%), vomiting (1.2% versus 0%), and diarrhea (0.7% versus 0.1%) for WEGOVY and placebo, respectively. Adverse reactions reported in clinical trials in adults and greater than or equal to 2% of WEGOVY-treated patients and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients are shown in Table 3. Table 3. Adverse Reactions (≥2% and Greater Than Placebo) in WEGOVY-treated Adults with Obesity or Overweight Placebo N = 1,261 % WEGOVY 2.4 mg N = 2,116 % Nausea 16 44 Diarrhea 16 30 Vomiting 6 24 Constipation 11 24 Abdominal Pain a 10 20 Headache 10 14 Fatigue b 5 11 Dyspepsia 3 9 Dizziness 4 8 Abdominal Distension 5 7 Eructation <1 7 Hypoglycemia in T2DM c 2 6 Flatulence 4 6 Gastroenteritis 4 6 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 3 5 Gastritis d 1 4 Gastroenteritis Viral 3 4 Hair Loss 1 3 Dysesthesia e 1 2 a Includes abdominal pain, abdominal pain upper, abdominal pain lower, gastrointestinal pain, abdominal tenderness, abdominal discomfort and epigastric discomfort b Includes fatigue and asthenia c Defined as blood glucose <54 mg/dL with or without symptoms of hypoglycemia or severe hypoglycemia (requiring the assistance of another person) in patients with type 2 diabetes not on concomitant insulin (Study 3, WEGOVY N=403, Placebo N=402). See text below for further information regarding hypoglycemia in patients with and without type 2 diabetes. T2DM = type 2 diabetes mellitus d Includes chronic gastritis, gastritis, gastritis erosive, and reflux gastritis e Includes paresthesia, hyperesthesia, burning sensation, allodynia, dysesthesia, skin burning sensation, pain of skin, and sensitive skin In a cardiovascular outcomes trial, 8,803 patients were exposed to WEGOVY for a median of 37.3 months and 8,801 patients were exposed to placebo for a median of 38.6 months. Safety data collection was limited to serious adverse events (including death), adverse events leading to discontinuation, and adverse events of special interest. Sixteen percent (16%) of WEGOVY-treated patients and 8% of placebo-treated patients, respectively, discontinued study drug due to an adverse event. Additional information from this trial is included in subsequent sections below when relevant. Adverse Reactions in a Clinical Trial of Pediatric Patients Aged 12 Years and Older with Obesity WEGOVY was evaluated in a 68-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial in 201 pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity. Baseline characteristics included a mean age of 15.4 years; 38% of patients were male; 79% were White, 8% were Black or African American, 2% were Asian, and 11% were of other or unknown race; and 11% were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. The mean baseline body weight was 107.5 kg, and mean BMI was 37 kg/m 2. Table 4 shows adverse reactions reported in greater than or equal to 3% of WEGOVY-treated pediatric patients and more frequently than in the placebo group from a study in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older. Table 4. Adverse Reactions (≥3% and Greater than Placebo) in WEGOVY-Treated Pediatric Patients Aged 12 Years and Older with Obesity Placebo N = 67 % WEGOVY 2.4 mg N = 133 % Nausea 18 42 Vomiting 10 36 Diarrhea 19 22 Headache 16 17 Abdominal Pain 6 15 Nasopharyngitis 10 12 Dizziness 3 8 Gastroenteritis 3 7 Constipation 2 6 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 2 4 Sinusitis 2 4 Urinary tract infection 2 4 Ligament sprain 2 4 Anxiety 2 4 Hair Loss 0 4 Cholelithiasis 0 4 Eructation 0 4 Influenza 0 3 Rash 0 3 Urticaria 0 3 Other Adverse Reactions in Adults and/or Pediatric Patients Acute Pancreatitis In WEGOVY clinical trials in adults, acute pancreatitis was confirmed by adjudication in 4 WEGOVY-treated patients (0.2 cases per 100 patient years) versus 1 in placebo-treated patients (less than 0.1 cases per 100 patient years). One additional case of acute pancreatitis was confirmed in a patient treated with WEGOVY in another clinical trial. Acute Gallbladder Disease In WEGOVY clinical trials in adults, cholelithiasis was reported by 1.6% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 0.7% of placebo-treated patients. Cholecystitis was reported by 0.6% of WEGOVY-treated adult patients and 0.2% of placebo-treated patients. In a clinical trial in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older, cholelithiasis was reported by 3.8% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 0% placebo-treated patients. Cholecystitis was reported by 0.8% of WEGOVY-treated pediatric patients and 0% placebo-treated patients. Hypoglycemia Patients with Type 2 Diabetes In a trial of adult patients with type 2 diabetes and BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m 2, clinically significant hypoglycemia (defined as a plasma glucose less than 54 mg/dL) was reported in 6.2% of WEGOVY-treated patients versus 2.5% of placebo-treated patients. A higher rate of clinically significant hypoglycemic episodes was reported with WEGOVY (semaglutide 2.4 mg) versus semaglutide 1 mg (10.7 vs. 7.2 episodes per 100 patient years of exposure, respectively); the rate in the placebo-treated group was 3.2 episodes per 100 patient years of exposure. In addition, one episode of severe hypoglycemia requiring intravenous glucose was reported in a WEGOVY-treated patient versus none in placebo-treated patients. The risk of hypoglycemia was increased when WEGOVY was used with a sulfonylurea. Patients without Type 2 Diabetes Episodes of hypoglycemia have been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists in adult patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus. In WEGOVY clinical trials in adult patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus, there was no systematic capturing or reporting of hypoglycemia. In a cardiovascular outcomes trial in adult patients without type 2 diabetes, 3 episodes of serious hypoglycemia were reported in WEGOVY-treated patients versus 1 episode in placebo. Patients with a history of bariatric surgery (a risk factor for hypoglycemia) had more events of serious hypoglycemia while taking WEGOVY (2.3%, 2/87) than placebo (0%, 0/97). Acute Kidney Injury Acute kidney injury occurred in clinical trials in 7 adult patients (0.4 cases per 100 patient years) receiving WEGOVY versus 4 patients (0.2 cases per 100 patient years of exposure) receiving placebo. Some of these adverse reactions occurred in association with gastrointestinal adverse reactions or dehydration. In addition, 2 patients treated with WEGOVY had acute kidney injury with dehydration in other clinical trials. The risk of renal adverse reactions with WEGOVY was increased in adult patients with a history of renal impairment (trials included 65 patients with a history of moderate or severe renal impairment at baseline), and occurred more frequently during dose titration. Retinal Disorders in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes In a trial of adult patients with type 2 diabetes and BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m 2, retinal disorders were reported by 6.9% of patients treated with WEGOVY (semaglutide 2.4 mg), 6.2% of patients treated with semaglutide 1 mg, and 4.2% of patients treated with placebo. The majority of events were reported as diabetic retinopathy (4.0%, 2.7%, and 2.7%, respectively) and non-proliferative retinopathy (0.7%, 0%, and 0%, respectively). Increase in Heart Rate Mean increases in resting heart rate of 1 to 4 beats per minute (bpm) were observed with routine clinical monitoring in WEGOVY-treated adult patients compared to placebo in clinical trials. In trials in which adult patients were randomized prior to dose-escalation, more patients treated with WEGOVY, compared with placebo, had maximum changes from baseline at any visit of 10 to 19 bpm (41% versus 34%, respectively) and 20 bpm or more (26% versus 16%, respectively). In a clinical trial in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with normal baseline heart rate, more patients treated with WEGOVY compared to placebo had maximum changes in heart rate of 20 bpm or more (54% versus 39%). Hypotension and Syncope Adverse reactions related to hypotension (hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, and decreased blood pressure) were reported in 1.3% of WEGOVY-treated adult patients versus 0.4% of placebo-treated patients and syncope was reported in 0.8% of WEGOVY-treated patients versus 0.2% of placebo-treated patients. Some reactions were related to gastrointestinal adverse reactions and volume loss associated with WEGOVY. Hypotension and orthostatic hypotension were more frequently seen in patients on concomitant antihypertensive therapy. In a clinical trial in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older, hypotension was reported in 2.3% of WEGOVY-treated patients versus 0% in placebo-treated patients. Appendicitis Appendicitis (including perforated appendicitis) occurred in 10 (0.5%) WEGOVY-treated adult patients and 2 (0.2%) patients receiving placebo. Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions In clinical trials in adults, 73% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 47% of patients receiving placebo reported gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including severe reactions that were reported more frequently among patients receiving WEGOVY (4.1%) than placebo (0.9%). The most frequently reported reactions were nausea (44% vs. 16%), vomiting (25% vs. 6%), and diarrhea (30% vs. 16%). Other reactions that occurred at a higher incidence among WEGOVY-treated adult patients included dyspepsia, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, eructation, flatulence, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, hemorrhoids, and hiccups. These reactions increased during dose escalation. In the pediatric clinical trial, 62% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 42% of placebo-treated patients reported gastrointestinal disorders. The most frequently reported reactions were nausea (42% vs. 18%), vomiting (36% vs. 10%), and diarrhea (22% vs. 19%). Other gastrointestinal-related reactions that occurred at a higher incidence than placebo among WEGOVY-treated pediatric patients included abdominal pain, constipation, eructation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, and flatulence. Permanent discontinuation of treatment as a result of a gastrointestinal adverse reaction occurred in 4.3% of WEGOVY-treated adult patients versus 0.7% of placebo-treated patients. In a pediatric clinical trial, 2.3% of patients treated with WEGOVY versus 1.5% of patients who received placebo discontinued treatment as a result of gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Injection Site Reactions In clinical trials in adults, 1.4% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 1.0% of patients receiving placebo experienced injection site reactions (including injection site pruritus, erythema, inflammation, induration, and irritation). Hypersensitivity Reactions Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema) have been reported with WEGOVY. In a pediatric clinical trial, rash was reported in 3% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 0% of placebo-treated patients, and urticaria was reported in 3% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 0% of placebo-treated patients. In adult clinical trials, allergic reactions occurred in 16% (8/50) of WEGOVY-treated patients with anti-semaglutide antibodies and in 7% (114/1659) of WEGOVY-treated patients who did not develop anti-semaglutide antibodies. Fractures In the cardiovascular outcomes trial in adults, more fractures of the hip and pelvis were reported on WEGOVY than on placebo in female patients: 1.0% (24/2448) vs. 0.2% (5/2424), and in patients ages 75 years and older: 2.4% (17/703) vs. 0.6% (4/663), respectively. Urolithiasis In a cardiovascular outcomes trial, 1.2% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 0.8% of patients receiving placebo reported urolithiasis, including serious reactions that were reported more frequently among patients receiving WEGOVY (0.6%) than placebo (0.4%). Dysgeusia In clinical trials in adults, 1.7% of WEGOVY-treated patients and 0.5% of placebo-treated patients reported dysgeusia. Laboratory Abnormalities Amylase and Lipase Adult and pediatric patients treated with WEGOVY had a mean increase from baseline in amylase of 15-16% and lipase of 39%. These changes were not observed in the placebo group. The clinical significance of elevations in lipase or amylase with WEGOVY is unknown in the absence of other signs and symptoms of pancreatitis. Liver Enzymes In a pediatric clinical trial, increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than or equal to 5 times the upper limit of normal were observed in 4 (3%) WEGOVY-treated patients compared with 0% of placebo-treated patients. In some patients, increases in ALT and AST were associated with other confounding factors (such as gallstones). In the cardiovascular outcomes trial in adults, increases in total bilirubin greater than or equal to 3 times the upper limit of normal were observed in 0.3% (30/8585) of WEGOVY-treated patients versus 0.2% (14/8579) of placebo-treated patients.

6.2 Postmarketing

Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of semaglutide, the active ingredient of WEGOVY. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: acute pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis, sometimes resulting in death; ileus Hypersensitivity: anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash, urticaria Renal and Urinary Disorders: acute kidney injury