Scientific publications
Original analyses of published studies: what was measured, what was found and what cannot be concluded.
Publication analyses
Publication analysis · Module 1
STEP 1: what a weight-management trial can establish
STEP 1 randomized 1,961 adults with overweight or obesity, without diabetes, to subcutaneous semaglutide or placebo with lifestyle support for 68 weeks. Mean weight change was −14.9% versus −2.4%. Gastrointestinal events led to discontinuation in 4.5% versus 0.8%. The study was funded by Novo Nordisk.
2 minReview pendingPublication analysis · Module 3
SURMOUNT-1: interpreting a multigroup obesity trial
SURMOUNT-1 randomized 2,539 adults with overweight or obesity, excluding diabetes, to three weekly tirzepatide groups or placebo for 72 weeks. Mean weight changes were −15.0%, −19.5%, and −20.9% in the 5-, 10-, and 15-mg study groups, respectively, versus −3.1% with placebo. These amounts identify trial groups, not an administration recommendation.
2 minReview pendingPublication analysis · Module 9
MOTS-c and exercise: keep the human and animal experiments separate
This paper combines human exercise measurements with experimental MOTS-c administration in animals. Changes in endogenous MOTS-c after human exercise and animal performance findings are distinct results. The human component is not a trial demonstrating that injected MOTS-c reproduces exercise benefits in people.
2 minReview pendingPublication analysis · Module 2
Oral semaglutide: formulation and administration conditions shape exposure
This analysis used a population pharmacokinetic model informed by clinical pharmacology trials of oral semaglutide. Estimated bioavailability was 0.8% under the specified recommended study conditions and changed with fasting time and water volume. The paper concerns the investigated oral product and its exposure profile.
2 minReview pendingPublication analysis · Module 3
STEP 9: weight, knee pain and function
STEP 9 randomized 407 adults with obesity and painful knee osteoarthritis to semaglutide or placebo for 68 weeks, with lifestyle counseling in both groups. Weight and WOMAC pain scores improved more with semaglutide; physical function also improved. Gastrointestinal problems were the most common reason for treatment discontinuation.
1 minReview pendingPublication analysis · Module 9
EVOKE: mechanism and clinical progression
The phase 3 evoke and evoke+ trials studied oral semaglutide in early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. The primary endpoint measured clinical progression using CDR-SB at 104 weeks. Semaglutide did not slow that progression compared with placebo.
1 minReview pendingPublication analysis · Module 3
BELIEVE: body composition is not the same as function
BELIEVE was a randomized phase 2 trial in 507 adults with obesity, excluding diabetes. It compared bimagrumab, semaglutide, combinations and placebo over 48 weeks, followed by an open-label extension. Bimagrumab is an investigational monoclonal antibody, not a peptide agonist.
1 minReview pendingPublication analysis · Module 3
Semaglutide and alcohol: an early randomized trial
A nine-week phase 2 trial randomized 48 adults with alcohol use disorder who were not seeking treatment to semaglutide or placebo. Laboratory alcohol consumption and some weekly drinking and craving measures improved. Average drinks per calendar day and the number of drinking days did not significantly change.
1 minReview pending
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