The European Congress on Obesity 2026 runs May 12–15 in Istanbul and is the next major obesity-medicine readout cycle after the Q1 earnings season. Novo Nordisk leads the abstract count with 52 presentations spanning the full STEP UP data for Wegovy 7.2 mg (following the April 7 launch and Q1 contribution), CagriSema higher-dose Phase 3 plans (after the February 2026 head-to-head loss against tirzepatide and the May 6 Q1 disclosure that the single-chamber co-formulation was discontinued), Wegovy pill efficacy and tolerability, and women's-obesity, perimenopause, and migraine subgroups.
A 21-expert global panel of obesity and cancer specialists is also expected to formally present a research proposal for a 10-year prospective trial testing GLP-1 receptor agonists for prevention of obesity-related cancers — building on SELECT cardiovascular benefit data, real-world dementia-incidence reductions, and the Lancet Psychiatry mental-health cohort. AstraZeneca's eleglipron full Phase 2b data from VISTA and SOLSTICE is on the ADA 2026 schedule the following month.
Stories here cover ECO readouts and the surrounding obesity-pharmacology calendar. See #wegovy, #cagrisema, and #novo-nordisk.
Viking Therapeutics announced two poster presentations at ECO 2026 in Istanbul (May 12-15) on its VK2735 dual GLP-1/GIP agonist program. The first poster details 13-week efficacy and safety data from the Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral trial of oral VK2735, supporting Viking's Q4 2026 plan to launch a Phase 3 trial of the oral formulation following positive FDA feedback. The second poster details Phase 3 VANQUISH-1 design and enrollment demographics for subcutaneous VK2735, which completed enrollment of approximately 4,650 adults with obesity in November 2025. VANQUISH-2 (subcutaneous VK2735 in T2D + obesity, ~1,000 adults) completed enrollment March 26, 2026. Posters display May 12-15 with networking sessions Thursday May 14 18:00-19:15 TRT.
Ascletis Pharma will present multiple poster sessions at ECO 2026 covering programs beyond the already-presented ASC30. ASC47, an adipose-targeting thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ) agonist designed for muscle-preserving weight loss, demonstrated up to 111.8% greater relative weight loss when combined with semaglutide vs semaglutide monotherapy in obesity participants. ASC36, a once-monthly next-generation amylin receptor agonist peptide, posted a 32-day average observed half-life — six times longer than Zealand's petrelintide. ASC35, a once-monthly next-generation GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist peptide, showed a 14-day average observed half-life (six times longer than tirzepatide) and 71% more relative weight loss than tirzepatide in a diet-induced obesity mouse model. Session Thursday May 14, 18:00-19:15 TRT.
Prof. Luca Busetto (University of Padova) and colleagues will present at ECO 2026 a pooled subgroup analysis of 358 adults aged 65 and older (mean age 69, 72% women) drawn from STEP 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 — 248 received semaglutide 2.4 mg, 110 placebo. The semaglutide arm lost 15.4% body weight on average vs 5.1% on placebo; 46.8% of semaglutide users hit ≥15% weight loss vs 6.4% on placebo, and 28.6% reached ≥20% vs 2.7%. Waist circumference fell 14.3 cm vs 6.0 cm. 27% on semaglutide reached a healthy BMI (<27) vs 5.5%. Serious adverse events occurred in 19.0% on semaglutide vs 12.7% on placebo. The analysis complements Lilly's ECO 2026 orforglipron 65+ subgroup analysis from ATTAIN-1 and ATTAIN-2 — both filling the geriatric data gap for the first generation of mainstream obesity drugs.
Prof. John Wilding (University of Liverpool) and colleagues will present at ECO 2026 a real-world observational study tracking obesity-linked complication rates by degree of GLP-1-driven weight loss. In the year following GLP-1 treatment initiation, 27.0% of patients had BMI reductions <5%, 22.4% had 5-<10%, 14.1% had 10-<15%, 15.8% had ≥15%, and 20.8% gained BMI. Over a mean 11-month follow-up, patients with ≥15% BMI reduction had 37% lower osteoarthritis odds, 30% lower CKD odds, 69% lower OSA odds, and 32% lower heart failure odds versus those with 0-5% reduction (all statistically significant except heart failure). Incidence per 1,000 person-years: 21.4 OA, 21.1 CKD, 20.3 OSA, 3.9 HF. The data quantifies the value of pushing for deeper weight loss rather than cruise-control dosing.
Ascletis announced multiple poster presentations at the 33rd European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) opening May 12 in Istanbul. ASC30, a first-in-class small-molecule GLP-1R fully biased agonist developed for once-daily oral and once-monthly to once-quarterly subcutaneous dosing, will be featured across formulation, PK, and clinical-data posters. The Phase 2 13-week study previously reported 7.7% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 60 mg oral dosing; the once-monthly subQ depot formulation achieved 7.5% placebo-adjusted weight loss at 16 weeks after three monthly doses, with topline T2D Phase 2 data expected Q3 2026. The subQ depot angle directly challenges Pfizer's MET-097i monthly thesis with a different mechanism (small-molecule GLP-1R biased agonist vs ultra-long-acting peptide).
A post-hoc subgroup analysis of Eli Lilly's orforglipron (Foundayo) in adults aged 65 and older, drawn from the ATTAIN-1 and ATTAIN-2 Phase 3 programs, will be presented at ECO 2026 in Istanbul May 12-15. The analysis pools 616 randomized participants (613 treated) — 118 on 6 mg, 135 on 12 mg, 146 on 36 mg orforglipron, and 214 placebo — across patients with and without type 2 diabetes. The geriatric data set addresses a long-standing clinical gap: incretin trials have systematically underenrolled adults over 65, the population most affected by obesity-related comorbidities and the most likely to face polypharmacy-related GI tolerability concerns. Lead author Dr. Deborah Horn (UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School). The presentation is among the ECO 2026 abstracts that will shape geriatric prescribing patterns for the first FDA-approved GLP-1 pill that does not require fasting or water restrictions.
Two of the year's biggest peptide-related meetings open within 24 hours of each other next week. The European Congress on Obesity 2026 runs May 12–15 in Istanbul, with Novo Nordisk presenting 52 abstracts spanning Wegovy 7.2 mg full STEP UP data, CagriSema higher-dose Phase 3 plans, Wegovy pill efficacy and tolerability, and women's-obesity / perimenopause / migraine subgroups; the 21-expert global panel will also formally propose the 10-year prospective GLP-1 cancer-prevention trial. TIDES USA 2026 runs May 11–14 in Boston with six concurrent scientific tracks across oligonucleotides, peptides, and mRNA — featuring Bachem, PolyPeptide, CordenPharma, Gilead, and Novo Nordisk on the CMC strategy and GMP capacity panels. Hims & Hers prints Q1 May 11 the same evening.
Ahead of the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul (May 12–15), a 21-expert global panel of obesity and cancer specialists will present a research proposal for a 10-year prospective trial testing GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide for prevention of obesity-related cancers. The proposal builds on the SELECT trial's established cardiovascular benefit, real-world dementia-incidence reductions, and the broader case that GLP-1s influence multiple aging-driven disease categories. The Istanbul meeting is the same venue where Novo Nordisk will present 52 abstracts on Wegovy, the higher-dose 7.2 mg formulation, the Wegovy pill, and CagriSema, including data on women's obesity, perimenopause, and migraine.
Novo Nordisk announced April 28 that it will present 52 abstracts at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, May 12–15), including new data from the REDEFINE 1 trial of CagriSema (cagrilintide 2.4 mg/semaglutide 2.4 mg): body composition and muscle strength, achievement of BMI/waist-to-height ratio targets, and cardiovascular risk reduction. Additional presentations will cover higher-dose Wegovy (semaglutide 7.2 mg), the Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide 25 mg) from OASIS 4 and ORION trials, and obesity treatment outcomes in women. The disclosure sets up a significant amylin/GLP-1 combination data event exactly as Zealand and Roche's amylin-only petrelintide moves into Phase 3.